Infighting takes Centre stage in Punjab Congress as Sidhu’s rallies ignite party tensions

In a dramatic turn of events, the political landscape in Punjab Congress has been thrown into disarray as former cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu’s unapproved rallies create internal strife, overshadowing the looming competition with political rivals AAP and BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Sidhu’s unauthorized rallies held across various parts of Punjab have drawn sharp criticism from the state party unit, led by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. Warring issued a stern warning, stating that any display of indiscipline would result in expulsion from the party. Responding to media queries regarding the rallies, he emphasized, “Nobody is above the party. Whoever wants to do something can do without Congress’s symbol and platform.”
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa joined the fray, taking a dig at Sidhu’s track record as the former PPCC president. Bajwa questioned, “When you (Sidhu) were the PPCC president, you brought (Congress) from 78 (seats in 2017) to 18 (seats in 2022). Now, what more does he want?” Urging Sidhu to voice concerns within the party, Bajwa advised against creating a separate platform, stating, “Setting up ‘apna nawan akhara’ (own stage) is not a good thing. No Punjab Congressman considers it good.”
Despite the mounting criticism, Sidhu remains steadfast, dismissing concerns over his rallies. He asserted, “If 5,000-7,000 people gather at some place, why does someone have a stomach ache? We are fighting to change this system in Punjab.” At his rallies, Sidhu has targeted both the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Bhagwant Mann dispensation in Punjab.
The ongoing face-off has fueled speculations of Sidhu contemplating a return to the BJP, the party he left in 2017 to join the Congress. Such a move would align him with a growing list of Congress leaders who have exited the party in recent years, including former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and former minister and state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, who joined the BJP in 2022. These defections underscore a weakening of Congress’s organizational strength, as evidenced by the outcome of the 2022 polls. The Grand Old Party has decided to go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls after prolonged conflicts with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its ally in the INDIA bloc but a fierce rival in Punjab. As the elections draw nearer, it becomes evident that Congress’s primary challenge lies in resolving internal conflicts and consolidating its position within the state.