In Punjab, captain sulks in BJP, Sidhu in Congress

Two political developments in Punjab caught attention last week, underscoring growing churn within the state's major parties.

The first involved Navjot Kaur, wife of former cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu. Kaur accused several Congress leaders of selling tickets and alleged that the chief minister's post was being bought for ₹500 crore. The Congress subsequently suspended her from the party over the remarks. Soon after, she posted on X that she and her husband would continue to remain in the Congress and work for the Gandhi family.

The second development came from former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, now in the BJP, who raised questions about the party's functioning in the state. In an interview, Singh said the BJP appeared rigid in its approach, in contrast to the Congress, which he described as more democratic and consultative in decision-making. He said he was never consulted on Punjab-related decisions in the BJP and that everything was decided from the top.


Singh, however, made it clear that he had no intention of returning to tshe Congress, saying he was still hurt by the manner in which he was removed from the chief minister's post.