Punjab Congress Crisis; Chief Minister Amarinder Singh gives resignation

Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh resigns; post-meeting the governor, Banwarilal Purohit, amid the unceasing ruckus in Punjab Congress after Navjot Singh Sidhu was nominated as the head of Congress’ Punjab unit.

Amarinder Singh handed over his resignation letter to the governor, Banwarilal Purohit, at Raj Bhavan on Saturday amidst the political disagreements and tension after Navjot Singh Sidhu was designated as the top authority Punjab Congress unit. Amarinder Singh stepped down nearly five months before the assembly elections in Punjab. 

The single-lined withdrawal proposal read, “I hereby put forward my resignation as the Chief Minister and that of my Council of Ministers.”

The quitting was put out by the senior leader’s son, Raninder Singh, on Twitter. Singh submitted the letter to the governor right before the legislative party meeting (CLP) assembled by the Congress party. 

The 79-year-old Amarinder Singh addressed a press conference at the entry gate of the Raj Bhawan and made it clear that he constantly felt humiliated in the party over the past two months.

He also added that this is the third time MLAs are being summoned for a meeting, making him feel like his governance is being doubted. 

He said, “I called the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi this morning and told her I was going to resign.” It appears that the Congress high command does not have faith in me and finds me incompetent at doing my job.

He expressed dismay about how Congress manoeuvred the whole situation. 

While addressing the media, Singh also hinted at quitting the party in the future. He added that future modus operandi would be settled upon after meaningful insights from his supporters and well-wishers.

According to political experts, this move might stir up problems for the party in the upcoming state election.

In the meantime, two resolutions were approved in the Congress legislature party meeting in Chandigarh. The first one is passed to acknowledge the cordial CLP leader who administered the government of Punjab with the main competency, controlled the dispute and provocations faced as stated by AICC general secretary of Punjab Harish Rawat.

In the second resolution, the Congress president is vested in choosing its next leader.

Conflict and enmity in Punjab Congress

The discord nourished by the clash of aspirations of both Navjot Singh Sidhu and Amarinder Singh segregated the ministers and legislators, making the party members uptight and uncertain of the influence on election candidates. 

The flames were fanned further when both the leaders partook in outfoxing each other, hardly missing a chance to degrade one another. After Punjab authority received a legal hindrance in 2015 for the Kotakpura police firing, the Sidhu clan further got an opportunity to render vendetta against Singh. 

Rumpus for authority and domination first occurred in 2019, when Navjot Singh Sidhu quit the state ministry for being deprived of local bodies portfolio. Former cricketer Sidhu was elected as the state president on July 18, neglecting then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s disapproval of the facade. 

Singh on Sidhu’s candidature for the CM

Amarinder Singh took a notch on Sidhu, saying he would oppose any bid to make Sidhu the chief ministerial front of the party in Punjab, calling Sidhu incompetent and unsuited for the post.

He addressed the concern as national security affair as Sidhu has ties with the prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan and the army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. 

According to the sources, Sidhu, who has been keeping an eye on the post, is remote to be considered for Singh’s fill-in.

Singh made it clear that even though he has quit the chief minister’s post, he will continue to campaign and fight for the state’s welfare.

Who will be the next Chief Minister of Punjab

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar is most likely to be the next CM of Punjab as his name has augmented sizeable fascination in Punjab. He holds twin benefits of being a farmer and a representative of the Hindu community of Punjab. 

The other three names fraternizing with the candidature of CM are Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sukhinder Singh Randhawa and Partap Singh Bajwa. The Congress Legislative Party (CLP), Punjab, awaits the decision given by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.