Punjab Congress
Punjab: Amrinder Singh approves Sidhu's elevation but wants upper hand in state matters
Chandigarh/IBNS: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh has agreed to rebel Congress leader Navjot Sidhu's promotion as the head of the state party unit, ending a week-long internal crisis that almost threatened to derail Congress's 2022 Assembly poll campaign.
Singh dropped his objection subject to the condition that he will have the upper hand in matters related to the state and also the next year's Assembly election.
According to an NDTV report Singh said he will abide by the party president's decision; however, the party High Command should involve him in important decision making processes.
"The Chief Minister stressed that Mr Sidhu's appointment should complement his efforts in returning the party to power in the 2022 assembly elections...Amarinder (Singh) should be given a free hand in cabinet rejig and also in the appointment of working presidents under the Punjab Congress President," NDTV quoted a source as saying.
So far, no official announcement has been made about the change in party leadership in Punjab.
Sign of Sidhu's elevation to the helm of the unit began emerging early in the day when he tweeted about meeting top leaders and past presidents of the Punjab Congress over the last few days to "seek guidance".
"Seeking guidance of Presidents of the illustrious Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee...Conversations with wise men, worth months of Education!!" the cricketer-turned-politician tweeted.
Seeking guidance of Presidents of the illustrious Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee … Conversations with wise men, worth months of Education !! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Tq5uqkbp6m
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) July 17, 2021
He also shared photos with various leaders, including Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, the man he is tipped to replace.
Congress Punjab in charge, Harish Rawat, also flew on as state government chopper to meet Amrinder Singh late in the morning, the report added.
"Captain saab has repeated his stand that he will accept and respect whatever decision the Congress President takes in the matter of the Punjab Congress chief's position," Mr Rawat tweeted in Hindi, thanking the Chief Minister for this, stated the report.
Since 2107, a bitter feud had been brewing between Captain Amrinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu, who, after playing the role of Congress's star campaigner in Punjab elections, hoped to be the deputy chief minister of Punjab but had to be satisfied with a ministership. Later, he resigned from the post when his ministry was downgraded by Singh.
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