Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday launched a scathing attack on former chief minister Amarinder Singh over the latter’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the upcoming Assembly polls. Sidhu called Amarinder an “arrogant king” and said he was “licking” the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Captain (Amarinder Singh) said that doors have been closed for Sidhu, but see today...he is sitting at home and is licking the feet of Modi,” the Congress leader was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. He was apparently referring to a comment made by the former party veteran in April that he had closed his doors for Sidhu.
Sidhu’s personal attack on his former party colleague came days after Amarinder announced on Friday that his newly-formed Punjab Lok Congress had entered into an electoral alliance with the BJP. On the same day, the Congress suffered another jolt as at least 22 leaders quit the party and joined the PLC.
Amarinder quit the Congress in November after a prolonged power tussle with Sidhu. Reports, however, said the BJP is likely to keep a major share of seats in the alliance and will contest in 70-80 seats.
Assembly polls in Punjab are due early next year. In the 2017 elections, the Congress won 77 seats, ousting the BJP-SAD government from power. While the Aam Admi Party managed to secure 20 seats, the SAD was reduced to 15. The BJP could win only three seats.
