AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel, today said Punjabis were looking towards the Congress with great hope and expectation to provide a credible and people-friendly government. He said they were completely disillusioned with the Aam Aadmi Party and wanted to get rid of the government at any cost.Addressing a press conference after attending the party’s ‘Har Booth Mazboot’ programme organised here today, Baghel said the Congress had a glorious history of serving the people. Moreover, he added, it was the Congress that had restored peace in Punjab.The former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister asserted that there was complete unity within the Punjab Congress and that all issues had been resolved. He said he had submitted his report to the party high command, following which it held a detailed meeting with the senior leadership from the state.Replying to a question about some leaders not being present at today’s programme, Baghel said it was a district-level event and similar programmes were being held across all districts. Besides, he added, all leaders could not be present at the same place at the same time.Responding to another question regarding the leadership issue ahead of the elections, he said the high command had already made it clear that the matter in Punjab was closed and that Amarinder Singh Raja Warring would continue as PCC president.The Congress general secretary predicted a five-cornered contest in Punjab this time between the Congress, the ruling AAP, the BJP, the Shiromani Akali Dal and Waris Punjab De. He said only the Congress was in a position to defeat the AAP.Speaking on the occasion, PCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said there was a clear understanding between the AAP and the BJP. He alleged that under this arrangement, the AAP would contest the Gujarat elections to divide the anti-BJP vote, which would otherwise go to the Congress. In return, he claimed, the BJP would help the AAP in Punjab.Replying to a question about the Punjab Education Minister’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the paper leak cases in the state, Warring said it was strange and surprising that a minister considered close to the Delhi leadership would seek such a probe when the AAP had previously accused the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of working at the BJP’s behest.Warring reiterated that around 50 AAP MLAs were ready to jump ship. He said they were simply biding their time to ensure that development work in their constituencies did not suffer and that they were not subjected to intimidation or harassment.He claimed the AAP was a house divided, with growing unrest among its MLAs. He pointed out that six of the party’s MPs from Punjab had defected to the BJP, while about 50 MLAs were waiting to leave. “Did any Congress MP, MLA or candidate defect to the BJP?” he asked, asserting that it was the AAP, and not the Congress, that was plagued by factionalism.Senior Congress leader and former minister Balbir Singh Sidhu was also present at the press conference. TNS