Punjab Congress Crisis: Sidhu resigns as PCC chief

At 3:00 PM, 28th September 2021 Navjot Singh Sidhu posted his resignation letter addressing Sonia Gandhi, interim President of Indian National Congress on his Twitter handle. He said that he'll step down from his post but he'll continue to serve congress. Throwing the party into chaos right before few months of the Assembly elections. Sidhu was appointed as PCC chief on July 19th and he resigned minutes after the portfolios to ministers within the new government headed by Charanjit Singh Channi were allocated. A minister and three Congress leaders, Razia Sultana, general secretary Yoginder Dhingra and treasurer Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal, also stepped down from their posts in Sidhu's support.

In his letter, he said, "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 the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress".

Follow NewsGram on Facebook to stay updated.

Sidhu's resignation as the PCC chief came merely 10 days after Captain Amarinder Singh stepped down as the chief minister of Punjab. Sidhu and Captain were involved in a prestige battle with each other for months. Shortly after Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned as Punjab Congress chief, former chief minister Amarinder Singh took the chance and tweeted "I told you so… he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab".

A day after Sidhu's resignation Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi held a state cabinet meeting. Addressing the issue of Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation from the post of chief of PCC Raj Kumar Verka said, "Sidhu should be with the Congress party and work together. We will resolve the matter within the cabinet meeting today." Adding to Verka's statement Randeep Nabha said, "We weren't aware of Sidhu's resignation and don't know why he resigned from the post. If party selects new chief then we'll accept it."

Sidhu released a video addressing Punjab Politics on his Twitter handle. Twitter/sherryontopp

On 29th September 2021, a day after giving in his resignation at 10:48 AM Sidhu released a video addressing Punjab Politics on his Twitter handle. In the video, Sidhu criticizes the appointment of tainted MLAs into the cabinet of chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and other controversial appointments. He said, "I can't compromise with my ethics, moral authority. What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I can't disguise high command nor can I let them be disguised. I don't have any personal rivalry with anyone; 17 years of my political career has been for a purpose, to make difference, to take a stand and to make people's lives better. This is my only religion"

ALSO READ: Cricketer-turned-Politician Navjot Singh Sidhu to formally launch Today new political front "Awaaz-e-Punjab" in Chandigarh

The sudden resignation came as a shock to the Gandhis, who together orchestrated Sidhu's appointment as part of an effort to end factionalism in Punjab Congress and improve the party's chances in next year's state elections. The Congress leaders have not accepted Sidhu's resignation and are making efforts to persuade him to take back his resignation.