CLP likely to authorize party president to formally name CM
Chandigarh, March 12, 2017: The newly elected Congress MLAs are meeting on Sunday at Chandigarh for the first meeting of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) where it should elect Capt Amarinder Singh as its leader.
But traditionally the right to make such decision rests with the party president. In all probability, there is not going to be any departure from this tradition this time as well.
The proposed CLP meeting being held at 2 pm on Sunday is likely to pass a resolution authorizing the party president to name the CLP leader to be sworn in as the Chief Minister. Understandably though, it’s going to be Capt Amarinder.
That no decision of such significance can be taken by the CLP on its own has already been indicated by Capt Amarinder himself on the day results of the Assembly elections were declared. He said the cabinet formation would be done in consultation with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
It may be recalled that post 2012 Assembly elections’ results, the CLP had recommended the name of its leader bypassing the set tradition of seeking nod of the party president. Later, the state leadership was snubbed for this indiscretion.