Amid a series of changes in the Punjab Congress and government, in a major development, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from his post on Tuesday. After this, in a sudden development, cabinet minister Razia Sultana also resigned from the council of ministers, showing solidarity with Sidhu. Soon after this, newly appointed PPCC general secretary Yoginder Dhingra, and treasurer Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal also resigned from their posts.
Minutes after the allotment of portfolios to new cabinet ministers, these resignations came. Sidhu sent his resign to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi through a tweet. In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, Sidhu wrote, “The collapse of a man’s character stems from the compromise corner. I can never compromise on Punjab’s future and the agenda for welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress.”
Sidhu is believed to be upset over the recent developments in the state, like some appointments on significant government posts, and inclusion as well as non-inclusion of some MLAs in the recently expanded cabinet of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Sources said that Sidhu was also opposing the allotment of the home department to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Sidhu had been named PPCC chief in July this year by the party high command despite opposition by former CM Captain
Amarinder Singh.
Meanwhile, Congress sources said Sidhu’s resignation has not been accepted. The top leadership has asked the state leadership to resolve the matter at its level first. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, “He(Navjot Singh Sidhu) had taken stand against corruption in Punjab…, if his suggestions are not paid heed to, he would not want to be a speechless president. We urge him to withdraw resignation & request the high command to redress his grievances,”
While CM Charanjit Singh Channi said that he will talk to Sidhu on the issue, former CM Captain Amarinder Singh as well as Opposition leaders took a dig at Sidhu. Captain Amarinder Singh said Navjot Sidhu’s resignation as PPCC chief within two months of taking over the vital post had proved beyond doubt that the cricketer turned politician was an “unstable” man, who could not be relied upon to lead the ruling party, especially in a border state like Punjab.
Terming Sidhu’s resignation as sheer drama, Captain Amarinder said the move suggested that his former cabinet colleague was preparing the ground to quit the Congress and join hands with some other party in the run-up to the state Assembly polls. “I had been saying all along that this man is unstable and dangerous, and cannot be entrusted with the task of running Punjab,” Captain Amarinder said, adding that Sidhu had also proved to be absolutely incompetent during his stint as a minister in his government.
Meanwhile, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Sidhu is a “misguided missile” and it is now known who he would harm because of his own interests. “I have been saying this for a long time. First the missile hit Captain Amarinder Singh and now it has hit the Congress. This is because Sidhu is full of self interest. In my view, he should just leave everything and go to Mumbai,” said Sukhbir.
AAP Punjab president Bhagwant Mann said that the Congress leaders were insulting Punjab and the people in their fight for the chair. Mann said the Congress had crossed all limits in the battle for chair and pride. State BJP president Ashwani Sharma said that on seeing his political ambitions being scuttled by the Congress high command which nominated Charanjit Singh Channi as Chief Minister, Sidhu has resigned and is trying to take a high moral ground, while it is only for personal gains, for which he has always worked.