CM Amarinder Singh's consent to make Sidhu Deputy Chief Minister in Punjab

Chandigarh, 4 July 2021 Sunday

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will leave for Delhi next week to address the crisis in the party's state unit. Captain, Navjot Singh Sidhu is ready to be made the Deputy Chief Minister of the state or the chairman of the campaign committee.

The Congress High Command will take the final decision only by taking the Captain into confidence. A prominent Hindu leader, a Punjab government minister, a former Union minister and an MP are standing in line for the chairmanship of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. The important committees for the Punjab Assembly elections to be held in 2022 are to be finalized.

A source close to the chief minister said the captain and the high command would discuss the formula for overcoming the party's dilemma by including Navjot Singh Sidhu in the state organization in a meeting next week. However, the date of this meeting has not been decided yet.

The source added that the departure of current Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar is certain. The captain has hinted that a Hindu leader should be given a chance to lead the party in the state, while discussions are underway to hand over a major responsibility to Sidhu. The situation will become clear after the meeting between the captain and the high command.

A senior Punjab Congress leader said that the problem of the Punjab Congress was not that of Captain vs. Sidhu. Most of the MLAs are not happy with the working style of the Chief Minister. Assembly elections are to be held in Punjab early next year. Then the internal crisis of the party has become a challenge for the party.

The party is not in a position to take a big step to change the leadership in the state. The High Command had constituted a three-member committee to look into the matter, which has submitted its report to Congress Acting President Sonia Gandhi. The captain is given an 18-point agenda to work on. Along with the reshuffle in Punjab's cabinet, other leaders will also be given a place.

Earlier in the week, Sidhu met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.