Newly-appointed PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday paid obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Durgyana Mandir and Sri Ram Tirath, with around 62 MLAs (as claimed by the Sidhu camp), including working presidents Kuljit Singh Nagra, Narinder Singh Danny and Sangat Singh Gilzian. He also paid obeisance at Jallianwala Bagh from outside, as entry is banned there due to ongoing construction work.
The MLAs had started gathering at Sidhu’s residence in Amritsar since morning. Around 12.00 noon, MLAs, along with Sidhu, boarded two luxury buses and the road-show started. During this, a large number of Congress supporters, who were present outside Sidhu’s house since morning, were with his convoy. Wherever Navjot Sidhu’s convoy passed on the way to Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Durgyana Mandir and Sri Ram Tirath, it was warmly welcomed.
Sidhu was also accompanied by outgoing PPCC president Sunil Jakhar and Punjab Youth Congress president Barinder Singh Dhillon, along with four ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Charanjit Singh Channi.
Although Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s tussle with Sidhu is well-known, the absence of the remaining 11 ministers of the state cabinet remained a matter of discussion. How ever, at present, 80 out of the 117 MLAs in the Punjab Legislative Assembly are of Congress and four AAP MLAs have joined Congress in the past. In this way, out of the total 84 MLAs of this side, participation of 62 (including four ministers) MLAs as claimed in this event, is being seen as an important development. It is being considered as a show of strength of Sidhu.
The MLAs Dr Raj Kumar Verka, Inderbir Singh Bularia, Sunil Dutti, Tarsem Singh DC, Joginder Pal, Harminder Singh Gill, Gurkeerat Singh Kotli, Amarinder Singh Raja Wading, Kulbir Singh Jeera, Pargat Singh, Madan Lal Jalalpur, Inderbir Singh Bularia, Dr. Harjot Kamal, Pargat Singh etc. were part of this show.
Sidhu to take charge tomorrow
Sidhu will take over charge as PPCC president on Friday at Punjab Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh. Along with him, working president Kuljit Singh Nagra, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Narinder Singh Danny and Pawan Goyal will also take charge.
Giving this information, Nagra said that a function will be organised on Friday at 11.00 am. State Congress in-charge Harish Rawat and some other national leaders of the party are also likely to attend this event. However, suspense prevails whether the distance between the Captain and Sidhu would reduce by that time. Therefore, the Chief Minister’s presence in this programme is doubtful.