Amarinder Singh, who was removed as Congress Punjab unit chief, today said he would have suggested a different name to replace him had he been consulted.

Singh, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, was replaced late last night by Gurdaspur MP Pratap Singh Bajwa as the new President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

"I was not consulted on the decision. Had I been consulted, I would have suggested a different name who could lead the party at this crucial time," Singh told PTI.

He said there has been a talk of his replacement for quite some time as the party was finding an able leader to replace him and steer the party.

Meanwhile, Congress party dismissed suggestions that Amarinder was "fired" as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief.

At the same time, party spokesman Sandeep Dikshit insisted that appointment of Bajwa in Amarinder's place was a "considered decision" of the high command.

Dikshit told reporters that after the Assembly elections even the PCC president had expressed the view that party should take a relook and make a change in the state.

He said it is in full wisdom that the party high command has taken the decision. "We welcome the new PCC chief and wish him all the best."

Dismissing suggestions that Amarinder has been fired, the Congress spokesman said, "it is not about firing and rather a considered decision of the high command."

He noted that if this was not the case then Amarinder would have been removed immediately after the Punjab Assembly elections.

70-year-old Singh, however, stood behind the party despite his removal and reposed complete faith in the Congress party under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

"I am a faithful Congress leader and have complete faith in the party under the leadershiop of Sonia Gandhi. I will abide by all decisions of the party," he said.

Congress removed Singh as its Punjab unit chief in the backdrop of the party's dismal show in Assembly elections last year. Bajwa, who has come in his place, is a younger face and a first-time MP.

The talk of a change in the Punjab unit has been going for more than a year ever since the party's defeat at the hands of the SAD-BJP alliance in the Assembly elections in January last year. The coalition had created history in the state by returning to power.

The recent Moga bye-poll loss seemed to have precipitated the change. Congress lost to the Akalis in the bye-poll after its MLA quit the party and re-contested as SAD candidate.

Singh had been under attack from within the party for his style of functioning. Demands for replacing him were made by various sections in the party.

After his appointment, Bajwa said his first priority would be to unite the entire Congress in the state.