Sidhu also appointed a new 'captain' of the Punjab Congress, four acting presidents

Chandigarh, Dt

Amid internal strife in the state Congress, the high command has decided to make Navjot Singh Sidhu the president of the Punjab unit as assembly elections are to be held in Punjab next year. In addition, four acting presidents have been appointed in view of the Assembly elections. This information has been given by releasing a letter from Casey Venugopal in this regard. The letter said Congress president Sonia Gandhi had taken the decision. However, the decision is likely to escalate the internal conflict in the Punjab Congress.

Along with Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sangat Singh, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goyal and Kuljit Singh Nagra have been made acting presidents. With this, it is now clear that Amarinder Singh will be the Chief Minister of Punjab and the helm of the Congress in the state has fallen into the hands of Navjot Singh Sidhu. With Sidhu's choice, the controversy could escalate rather than calm down. In fact, on Sunday morning, more than 11 MLAs had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi not to appoint Navjot Singh Sidhu as Speaker.

When a chief minister or president is made in the Congress so far, the executive writes a letter to Sonia Gandhi. But this is the first time that the state executive is calling a meeting and on the other hand the state president has been announced.

Punjab President Sunil Jakhar on Monday convened a meeting of the Punjab Congress state executive in which a resolution was to be passed on whether the decision taken by the high command would be approved by the state Congress. But even before the meeting, the decision of the high command came from Delhi. The letter from Congress general secretary Casey Venugopal further thanked the current Congress state president Sunil Jakhar for his work so far. It is learned that Kuljit Singh Nagra, who was once the AICC in-charge of Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura, will be relieved of the post.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Punjab MPs, who now support Chief Minister Amarinder, had sought time to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi. MPs and MLAs who met Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa at his residence were to oppose the appointment of Navjot Singh Sidhu as Punjab Congress president. According to sources, behind the protest, he will present an argument to the party president that Sidhu has no grip on the organization. At the same time the party will also argue for justice to the social representation of other castes and societies. Sources said old party allies were upset with the high command's decision to make Sidhu president of the Punjab Congress. Navjot Singh Sidhu was appointed as the president of the state unit even before the Punjab MPs-MLAs protested against Sonia.