Only a handful of sitting Congress MLAs and small-time party workers had come to show solidarity with Capt Amarinder Singh. Not only this, the presidents of party’s urban and rural district units, Jagmohan Sharma and Bhalinder Singh, respectively, were also conspicuous by their absence.

Sources in the Congress revealed that for the last four days before his hearing in the court here, Capt Amarinder Singh’s camp was trying hard to ensure a good show of strength.

It is pertinent to mention here that none of the sitting five Congress MLAs — Jassi Khangura (Kila Raipur), Tej Parkash Singh (Payal), Ishar Singh Meharbaan (Koom Kalan), Gurdeep Singh Bhaini (Jagraon) and Harmohinder Singh Pradhan (Raikot) — and former cabinet ministers Harnam Dass Johar, Rakesh Pandey, former chief parliamentary secretary Malkiat Singh Birmi and parliamentary secretary Surinder Dawar came in Capt Amarinder Singh’s support.

Another senior party leader, who preferred not to be quoted, said, “When Capt Amarinder Singh was the chief minister, he never paid any attention to the party leaders, leave alone lower-level workers. Why should we go in his support when we have never been acknowledged by Capt Singh.”