MANDI GOBINDGARH: All India Youth Congress presidents Maninderjit Singh Bitta on March 20 unceremoniously removed Ramesh Singla from the president ship of the Punjab Youth congress precipitating his differ with Chief Minister Beant Singh Sangla is considered close to the Chief Minister.
He announced the nomination of Bhupesh Sharma as Singlas successor at the rally organized by the Punjab Youth Congress in this steel town here to mark 1000 days of P.V.Narasimha Rao Government in office. Ashe announced the removal of Singla Beant Singh was organizing a party conference in Gurdaspur district.
Bitta said Sharma had been nominated as the new president of the State unit as Singla had crossed the age limit. He announced his nomination to the National Council of the Youth Congress.
Singla who was elected to the Vidhan Sabha as Congress rebel was appointed president of the state Youth Congress following Bittas elevation to the national scene.
The signals emanating from the rally were loud and clear. Not single banner carried the name of Beant Singh or Singla. The Pradesh Congress virtually boycotted the rally a seven the local MLA Sadhu Singh preferred to stay away. Singla himself was not present despite the fact that there was no linking of his being removed though it was known that he would not attend the rally.
The only senior leader present was Harchand Singh who represents this Lok Sabha constituency He is close to former Union Home Minister Buta Singh.
That the chasm between Bitta and Beant Singh was widening was apparent when he abstained from the meeting of the Congress Legislature Panty on the eve of the budget session. He has not attended the Assembly session even for a day so far.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 25, 1994
