The over-a-month-long drama involving the Punjab Congress had a happy ending today at 10, Janpath, after party chief Sonia Gandhi gave a pep-talk to both camps on unity and the importance of winning LS polls.At the back of this peace breakthrough is a ‘‘compromise formula’’, making dissident leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal the Deputy Chief Minister. While CM Amarinder Singh is said to have agreed, it is Bhattal who is said to have reservations against accepting the formula. Her fears revolve around repercussions by the 33-strong MLA group, which had stuck with her despite overtures from CM loyalists.Today, Amarinder and Bhattal addressed the press together outside 10, Janpath. They said: ‘‘Congress was one big family and every family has a little bit of nauk-jhonk (squabbles).’’On her demand for sacking Amarinder, Bhattal said: ‘‘Our only dream is to make Sonia Gandhi the PM.’’ The CM, apparently satisfied with the lease of life he got, said: ‘‘We are together now and we will win the coming elections.’’Sonia met the 64-member Punjab CLP tonight and directed them to ‘‘work in unity’’ and told them they should prove themselves by winning Lok Sabha elections. The Congress high command has also called for a Congress Working Committee meeting on January 7 to finalise strategy for the general elections. It is expected to discuss the recommendations of the Pranab Mukherjee Committee, which looked into the debacle in Assembly elections, submitted last week. The committee report stressed on the need for early identification of candidates for Lok Sabha polls, apart from forging early coalitions preferably by January end. The CWC is also expected to look at Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and other states where general and state elections could be held together.Apart from the ‘‘compromise formula’’, senior leaders said the new-found affection between the Punjab CM and rebels is also grounded in a warning that the responsibility for the next general elections would be on the two camps. While the high command is said to be ready to appease everyone, it is also being made clear that each MLA would be held responsible for the party’s performance in their constituencies. This is being done to put off any attempt to link election results to demands for a change in leadership.
