Punjab Congress in turmoil: 2017 Poll win pillars 'Captain-Jakhar' hold BJP's hands; Sidhu likely to be next

Punjab Congress has suffered a major setback, as 2017 Poll stars 'Captain-Jakhar' hold BJP's hands

Jakhar-joins-BJP Captain-alliance-with-BJP Congress-in-Trouble
Sunil Jakhar, Rahul Gandhi's Punjab charioteer, has left the party. He will now bolster the BJP in Punjab by becoming PM Narendra Modi's warlord. Punjab Congress has suffered a major setback. Sunil Jakhar is part of the same trio who brought Congress to power in 2017 after Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu. The BJP and Captain Amarinder Singh have already formed an alliance. Jakhar has now joined the BJP.

In Congress, Navjot Sidhu is also having a difficult day. Sonia Gandhi has taken over the leadership of the Punjab Congress. He has now been issued a disciplinary notice. Sidhu could face legal action shortly. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court has condemned him to a year of solitary confinement.

One after the other stalwarts are leaving Congress putting a question mark on the leadership of the Gandhi family. After losing two general elections Congress no more attracts leaders and workers and seems to be on its way to extinction. 

The story of Jakhar's defection from Congress began on the same day when he was abruptly ousted from his position as state president for no apparent reason. Navjot Sidhu was appointed as his replacement by Congress. In Punjab, he distanced himself from the Congress party.

The tussle for the CM's chair took care of the rest. Captain Amarinder Singh was ousted as Chief Minister by the Congress High Command. It did not sit well with Jakhar. The Congress high command, however, planned to name Jakhar the new chief minister. Jakhar was called from Bangalore to Punjab specifically for this purpose. He was Rahul Gandhi's pick for the position of Chief Minister. Here, voting was done in his name. In which 42 of the 78 MLAs voted for Jakhar.

Sunil Jakhar was supposed to be the new chief minister. Congress leaders had also arrived at his home with a bouquet. A statement by Ambika Soni, Sonia Gandhi's close aide, grabbed his chair. Ambika Soni believes that the Chief Minister of Punjab should only have a Sikh face. Then came the exclusion of Navjot Sidhu and Sukhjinder Randhawa. Finally, the Congress appointed Charanjit Channi, a close associate of Ambika Soni, as Chief Minister. Only two MLAs supported Charanjit Channi's appointment as CM, according to Jakhar.

Captain Amarinder Singh was the face of the Congress in Punjab, which helped the party win power in 2017. In September 2021, however, Congress lost faith in Capt. Congress appointed Harish Rawat as Punjab in charge. He promoted Navjot Sidhu, Captain's archrival in politics, to the position of the head. Captain was then removed from the CM's position. Captain had resigned from the Congress.

Also read:  Snapping 50-years' association with Congress, Jakhar embraces BJP

After becoming the leader, Navjot Sidhu assured the Congress high command that he would no longer be a 'darshani horse' to provide him strength. However, by the time the Punjab elections rolled around, the Congress had abandoned him. Sidhu had previously been denied CM status. Sidhu continued to display his Punjab model, while Congress released a different manifesto. Sidhu then continued to demand, "Make me the CM face." Congress benched Sidhu in favor of Charanjit Channi. Sidhu blamed Channi for the setback, although Sidhu's resignation was accepted by Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Amarinder Raja Warring, not Sidhu, is now in charge.

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