Amarinder refuses to contest Punjab polls under Navjot Singh Sidhu, calls up Sonia Gandhi

The political tug of war between Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu is not reaching any conclusion. While the Congress high command is planning a bigger role for Sidhu, Amarinder is in no mood to budge.

According to sources, Amarinder Singh spoke to Interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday to register his protest over the party’s decision to make Sidhu working president. He clarified that the decision was “not acceptable” to him.

Earlier in the day, the Grand-Old-Party along with Navjot Singh Sidhu had finalized two working presidents – Vijender Singhla and Santokh Choudhary – for the Punjab unit. Sources indicated that Amarinder has been chosen to head the campaign committee while PS Bajwa may be made the chairman of the manifesto committee.

Apart from Amarinder, top leaders of the state, who have worked hard over the years, have also objected to Sidhu’s promotion. Sources further said that the state unit of the Congress party may collapse if the decision remains unchanged.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab Harish Rawat has announced that Captain Amarinder Singh will be the chief ministerial candidate in the 2022 elections.

Both Sidhu and Singh have been at each other’s face and have made public statements against each other, prompting the party to set up a three-member panel headed by Mallikarjun Kharge to quell factionalism.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has met Singh and Sidhu has met party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Read more: Congress ended Punjab’s infighting; Finalized formula to take Amarinder, Sidhu along