The internal fissures in the Punjab Congress unit, which overshadowed the party's government and poll campaign, show no signs of healing.
Two former chiefs of the Punjab Congress unit, in different ways, reminded the party of its internal troubles on Wednesday.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned in the wake of the Congress drubbing, claimed new Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had unfurled a “anti-Mafia era” in Punjab. Sidhu tweeted “The happiest man is the one from whom no one expects … Bhagwant Mann unfurls a new anti - Mafia era in Punjab with a mountain of expectations …hope he rises to the occasion, brings back Punjab on the revival path with pro - people policies … best always.”
Sidhu had been critical of the Amarinder Singh and later Charanjit Singh Channi governments for allegedly being slow to crack down on drug and sand mining mafia groups in Punjab.
A day after the election results came out, Sidhu told mediapersons the people had made an “excellent decision” to usher in change by voting for AAP.
Sunil Jakhar, whom Sidhu replaced as Punjab Congress chief last year, has been unhappy for months at allegedly being overlooked for the chief minister's post. Jakhar had indicated the Congress had overlooked him as he was a Hindu. Jakhar tweeted on Wednesday “Who let the GENIE out ?? A sham 'witch-hunt’ will not help. Show courage. Censure and remove the real culprit from high positions*. Otherwise, this ghost of religion/caste/identity politics will haunt the Cong party in Punjab even in ‘24 and beyond.”
On Wednesday, Congress MPs from Punjab met party chief Sonia Gandhi to discuss the election defeat.
The Times of India reported they were severely critical of Channi, Sidhu and Jakhar. They spoke of alleged corruption during Channi’s short tenure. The MPs alleged Channi had sabotaged prospects of several Congress candidates
“Their wrath also fell on Sidhu whose constant sniping at leaders including Channi, and his pinpricks against other state stalwarts, it was argued, never allowed the party to get into the election mode. Sidhu also refused to campaign for the party,” The Times of India reported. The MPs criticised Jakhar for his comments on being denied the CM's post due to him being a Hindu, which they felt dented the party's prospects.
