Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns as Punjab Congress chief, 'not a stable man' says Capt Amarinder Singh

CHANDIGARH: Two months after he took over as the Punjab Congress president, Navjot Sigh Sidhu on Tuesday resigned from his post. 

His resignation letter addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, read, "The collapse of a man's character stems from the compromise corner. I can never compromise on Punjab's future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as the President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress."

Meanwhile, former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, who was boarding a flight to Delhi from here,  tweeted, "I told you so… he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab."

And trouble continues in @INCPunjab with @sherryontopp resignation @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/Xey0CdLaXS

— richa sharma (@richa_TNIE) September 28, 2021

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi says, "I have not got the information that Sidhu has resigned. I will talk to him and sort out the differences if any. He has not spoken to me as of now. I have full confidence in him."

"I do not want to comment on anyone’s statement,", Channi said when asked for comments over Amarinder Singh's reaction on Sidhu' move.

Sources claimed that Sidhu is reportedly upset over some recent developments in distribution of portfolios in state cabinet. It is said that he opposed the home portfolio being given to deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

I told you so…he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of punjab.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) September 28, 2021

Randhawa was among the frontrunners for the chief minister’s post. But he could not be made the CM due to Sidhu's opposition. Sidhu had proposed his name for the CM post but failed to get any favour. Then Charanjit Singh Channi, a leader from the Dalit community, was made the chief minister.

Sidhu is also said to be perturbed over the induction of a few legislators into the Channi cabinet. Sidhu, who was backing Surjit Dhiman, MLA from Amargarh, and Kuljit Singh Nagra, MLA from Fatehgarh Sahib, could not find any place in the cabinet. Only Pargat Singh, one of his close associates, made it to the cabinet. 

Also, six party MLAs had recently written a letter to Sidhu against the induction of Rana Gurjeet Singh into the state cabinet due to his involvement in the mining scandal. But despite the objections, Rana was made the cabinet minister.

Sidhu was also upset over the appointment of APS Deol as the state’s new Advocate-General. Deol had earlier been the counsel for former state DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in the various sacrilege cases and had secured his release from jail in a vigilance case.

Sidhu had replaced Sunil Jakhar as Congress in June after much power tussle between him and former chief minister Amarinder Singh. Sidhu's name was pushed by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who had even arranged his meeting with Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party Punjab in-charge Raghav Chadha termed the political development in Punjab as absolute anarchy. He tweeted, "Complete and absolute state of anarchy in Punjab Congress. How can the people of Punjab expect these selfish leaders to give a stable, progressive, and inclusive administration? How can these people be trusted with a state which has a 550 km border with Pakistan."

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