Afternearly months of hectic lobbying and parlays within the Congress in Punjab over"defiant" former Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was indirect loggerheads with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Sidhu was on Saturdaynight appointed the state unit party President, replacing Sunil Jakhar, aprominent Hindu face who was at the helm for over four years.
Hisappointment comes in the wake of serious objections raised by Amarinder Singh,who wrote to interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi against the elevation ofSidhu, a Jat Sikh, to the post, saying it would upset senior leadersrepresenting the Hindu community.
Notjust this, many MLAs backing Punjab CM had written to the party high commandopposing Sidhu’s elevation. But the way Congress High Command took decisionover Sidhu by going against Capt Amarinder, the insiders say that this is astrong message to the party's state satraps as well as chief ministers who areasserting themselves.
Captain-Sidhutussle is not new!
Itis said that Captain and Sidhu had problems from the beginning and this isnothing new. Captain Amarinder Singh was not even happy with his induction intothe party from BJP and it was under pressure from the Congress high command, hewas given a cabinet berth.
Sidhueven tried to build pressure on Captain Amarinder Singh through Rahul Gandhiand Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to give him the post of deputy chief minister. Healways eyed the home portfolio but Captain Amarinder Singh refused to budge.
Thedifference between Captain-Sidhu widened when the latter started publiclytargeting Punjab CM over issues related to Badals and his promise to wipe outthe drug mafias who caused huge losses to the state exchequer.
Sidhu in last two-three months posted nearly 150 odds tweets regarding drug mafia, sacrilege, power crisis, sand mafia etc criticising the Punjab CM and his functioning. Heeven in a public statement said that it is Badals who are ruling over Punjaband not Capt Amarinder-led-Congress government.
Sidhubecame active again ahead of elections, why?
Sidhuresigned from his post as a Cabinet Minister in the state on July 14, 2019after differences with Amarinder Singh over portfolio allocation. Sidhu wasin-charge of local bodies but was shifted to the Power Department.
Timeand again he was meeting top party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi in NewDelhi, and apprised them of the political situation in Punjab. He even kept onmeeting election strategist Prashant Kishor.
Appealingto the people to join him and "be part of the resurrection", Sidhu,who has never been far from controversies, even hogging the limelight asfallout -- whether for good or bad.
PrashantKishor and Navjot Sidhu!
Itis being learnt from sources that this ‘Punjab Congress Crisis’ drama was apart of a bigger strategy which has been scripted by none other PrashantKishor. As Congress has been mulling the strategy to give prominent space toyoung leaders, therefore, Sidhu’s elevation is an indication that CaptAmarinder is not Congress in Punjab and things can change any moment.
Priyanka Gandhi played a major role, know how?
Congressgeneral secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is said to have played the role of acrisis manager in ‘Punjab Congress Crisis’. As per sources, Priyanka Gandhifought all odds and even arranged Sidhu’s meeting with Rahul to assume the roleof the state president post to him. It is said Priyanka is eyeing Congress leadership and want young leaders like her to assume the charge. Besides, major fact behind Sidhu being appointed PCC President despite Capt Amarinder's stiff opposition was the popularity survey conducted by Congress.
Meanwhile,only time will tell whether Sidhu will be able to return his party to powerwith Amarinder Singh remaining the Chief Minister's face for the upcomingelection, slated in early 2022 or he himself could be the potential candidatefor CM’s post.