3-D mantra of Punjab's new Congress chief Raja Warring

Chandigarh: Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, newly appointed Punjab Congress president assumed office on Friday and kicked off his term with advocacy of a '3-D mantra' to party leaders and workers. His prescription is Discipline, Dedication and Dialogue to meet the challenges and strengthen the party.

At a simple ceremony, Warring took charge to the accompaniment of working president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Senior party leaders of the party were also present for the function at the Punjab Congress Bhavan..

Warring succeeds Navjot Singh Sidhu. Punjab's factionalism-plagued party has been in shambles in recent months with first Capt Amarinder Singh being asked to vacate his post of chief minister and Navjodh Singh Siddhu taking over, then followed by Charanjit Singh Channi becoming chief minister and later Amarinder Singh falling out to form his own party, PunjabLok Congress. From a party with a clear majority in the assembly, the Congress was wiped out in the election held in February this year and closed with 18 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party made a landslide with 92 out of 117 seats.

In parallel, the party suffered a drubbing in the four other states also that went to polls, and the Congress chief had asked state Congress chiefs to resign.

Addressing the gathering at the party office, he said the Congress is a 'soch' (thinking) and 'vichar' (thought) which cannot come to an end.

Warring, 44, said that to face the challenges, the party leaders and workers would have to follow discipline, dedication and dialogue.

Stressing that in the absence of discipline, the party could be strengthened and grow only if workers showed displine.

"We have to adopt three Ds in our lives if we want to move towards success," said Warring and added that dedication towards shouldering responsibility was also very important.

He explained that by dialogue he meant the communication with the people to seek their views.

"If I make my own strategy, then I think we cannot move towards success," said Warring.

"Not only in a party but in a business as well, if you hold dialogue with colleagues or go for team work, then you will succeed," he said.

Later in a tweet, Warring said, "Discipline, Dedication and Dialogue will be my 3-D mantra for strengthening the party."

Prominent among those who were present at the ceremony included former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, AICC in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Chaudhary, Punjab Congress Legislature Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, MLAs Sukhpal Khaira, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Sarkaria, MPs Manish Tewari, Jasbir Dimpa and other party leaders.

Former state Congress president Sidhu came to the party office but did not share the stage with others leaders.

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar was not seen at the event. Warring thanked the party leadership including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for appointing him as the Punjab Congress president.

(With PTI inputs)