AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH: Congress MLA from Rajasansi Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria has submitted his reply to Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar.

Jakhar had asked him to give him in writing the issues which were agitating him and which led him to write to All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi criticizing state party unit president Partap Singh Bajwa and seeking his replacement by former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Sarkaria had been accused of violating party discipline and hobnobbing with the Akalis by Bajwa, who threatened strict disciplinary action against him. Several party MLAs sought his expulsion from the party.

However, Jakhar and many others felt that the party leadership was overreacting to the letter written by Sarkaria and his grievances could be easily redressed through dialogue.

Sukh Sarkaria’s differences with another local Congress leader OP Soni are well known. These differences have further sharpened after the appointment of Soni as one of the four vice-presidents. Soni is also in-charge of Majha region. In his letter to Sonia Gandhi, Sarkaria targeted Soni and accused Bajwa of unduly patronizing Soni against him, causing the rift to further widen.