The Congress may have brought in drastic changes in its Punjab set-up, but it continues to grapple with the question of how to deal with the challenges posed before the party by the unpredictable state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Sidhu had dropped a bombshell with his sudden decision to resign as PCC chief on September 28, announcing the move on Twitter. According to party sources, the central leadership is yet to take a final decision on his resignation.
While it is learnt that Sidhu's resignation has not yet been accepted, there has been no official word from the party offering clarity on where the matter now lies. Neither has Sidhu made any official statement with regard to where he stands on the resignation right now. It is learnt that the party has kept the option of replacing Sidhu open and a few names have been doing the rounds as his possible replacement.
In the meantime, Sidhu, for all practical purposes, continues to be PCC chief and it was in this capacity that he undertook the eyeball grabbing march of state leaders and workers to Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh to protest the killing of protesting farmers.
On October 5, when Sidhu announced that Punjab Congress leaders and workers will march towards Lakhimpur Kheri, AICC General Secretary Harish Rawat, in charge of Punjab affairs, was effusive in his praise of the move. He tweeted: “Navjot ji this is a great decision. Congratulations, this is the Congress we need. I shall too join you in your mass movement to Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur.”
Sh. Navjot Singh Sidhu, President Punjab Congress will be meeting me and Sh. Venugopal ji for discussion on certain organisational matters pertaining to Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee at Venugopal ji's office on 14th October at 6 PM. @sherryontopp
— Harish Rawat (@harishrawatcmuk) October 12, 2021
Even as Sidhu has kept up an attack on the Channi government, he has worn his loyalty to the Gandhi siblings on his sleeve. Earlier this month, he had tweeted 'Will uphold principles of Gandhi ji & Shastri ji ... Post or No Post will stand by @RahulGandhi & @Priyankagandhi! Let all negative forces try to defeat me, but with every ounce of positive energy will make Punjab win, Punjabiyat (Universal Brotherhood) win & every Punjabi win !!'
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However, there continues to be uncertainty over Sidhu's status even as the party after his resignation made an effort to bridge the differences between him and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, especially with regard to the appointment of officials who were not viewed favourably in the context of the emotive sacrilege case.
Sidhu continues to be critical of the Channi government, publicly vocalising his disagreements with the state dispensation, especially on the sacrilege issue or the power problems. He was curiously absent from the wedding ceremony of Channi's son recently, choosing to visit the Vaishno Devi shrine on the same day. Also, a video of Sidhu expressing his disappointment at not being made chief minister and remarking that Channi will sink the Congress in the Assembly elections in 2022 went viral recently.
While the central leadership went in for drastic changes in the state, making veteran leader Capt Amarinder Singh step down as chief minister, it is worried about the continuing disquiet in the state unit as Sidhu and Channi are not on the same page.
