New Delhi: Senior Congress leader from Punjab Amarinder Singh, who was virtually absent in the winter session of Parliament, could soon be replaced as the Deputy leader of the party in the Lok Sabha.
At the same time, party sources did not rule out the possibility of the 72-year-old leader being made Congress' Chief Ministerial candidate in Punjab where assembly elections are due in 2017.
A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said the high command could designate another person as the party's Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha soon. Seeking to dismiss speculation that Amarinder was set to join BJP, the leader said it showed the stature of the former Punjab Chief Minister as "no one can ignore him".
He did not rule out the possibility of Amarinder, a former chief of Punjab PCC, being made the "face" of the party in the Assembly polls.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has to strive hard in Parliament due to absence of several senior leaders including Amarinder.
Congress has only 44 members in the Lok Sabha.
