Amarinder Singh is Punjab Captain, Sidhu Camp told

Worried about the prospects of the Punjab Congress crisis spinning out of control, the Congress high command on Wednesday told the Navjot Singh Sidhu camp that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will lead the party in the state assembly elections. The statement came a day after the Sidhu camp aggravated the situation by calling for the CM’s removal and the high command sensed that a likely retaliatory action by the Amarinder side will not only jeopardise the Congress’ electoral prospects but will also land the three Gandhis with the blame for Sidhu and his advisors’ provocative conduct.

“The Congress party functions by well-established traditions. Captain Amarinder Singh ji was elected as Punjab CM by the party leadership and he continues as the CM. So, we will contest 2022 Punjab elections under the leadership of Amrinder Singh Ji”, AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab, Harish Rawat, told ET after he met four Punjab ministers –– Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi. They had met him with the demand for Singh’s removal.

On the demand for CM’s removal, Rawat said over the phone, “As PCC president, Navjyot Singh Sidhu ji has the responsibility to keep the Punjab Congress united and strong and contribute to the party’s and the state government’s efforts to win the assembly polls”.


While addressing the local media, Rawat also put the onus on Sidhu to rein in his controversial advisors (who made provocative statements about Pakistan and J&K). “Any comment against national interest is not acceptable,” he said.

Rawat also said that internal differences will have no bearing on the stability of the Punjab government and assured that the grievances of MLAs will be addressed. “This thing happens in the party. When we brought in changes in the Pradesh Congress Committee, we had an idea about possible issues that may turn up. We will find a solution. Everyone trusts Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. But we will look into why suddenly a large number of MLAs are disappointed. We will try to resolve the issues.”

Having failed to meet Sonia Gandhi, some MLAs may get to meet Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

As the high command was delivering the jolt to the Sidhu camp, Congress MP and the CM’s wife Preneet Kaur advertised Amarinder Singh’s fighting mood before media persons in Chandigarh by squarely blaming the Priyanka Vadra-picked PCC chief Sidhu for the crisis and asked why everybody, including ministers and MLAs were happy till the appointment of the new PCC chief.

“For four-and-half-years, everything was ok. But now, it is for the (party) high command to take note and see what is actually going on the ground and do what is best for the party,” Kaur said about the sudden rebellion. Asked whether she holds Sidhu responsible for the current situation, she replied, “Of course, he is. He is the one who started (with) his advisers.”