Gujaratwali in Punjab: Resignation of the entire Cabinet including the Chief Minister

(PTI) Chandigarh, Ta. 13

Barely a week after the entire cabinet, including the chief minister, resigned in BJP-ruled Gujarat, the entire cabinet, including Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, has now resigned in Congress-ruled Punjab on Saturday. However, the fundamental difference between the resignations of the two cabinets was that Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani quietly resigned while Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh spoke to Congress President Sonia Gandhi after his resignation on Saturday and complained that he was being insulted repeatedly in the party. A meeting of the Punjab Congress Legislative Party held in the evening for the appointment of a new Chief Minister of Punjab was attended by six MLAs, including Amarinder's supporters.

Just before the Congress assembly party's meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday evening, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reached the Raj Bhavan and tendered his resignation to the governor. The cabinet also resigned shortly after Amarinder's resignation.

Outside the Raj Bhavan, Amarinder said he had informed Congress President Sonia Gandhi of his resignation this morning. "I have been insulted for the third time in recent times," he said. He has expressed doubts about running the government. The Congress is meeting for the third time in the last two months. I feel humiliated. So I have resigned as Chief Minister. All options for future politics are open to me. I will sit down with my supporters and work out a future strategy.

"I am currently in Congress," said Capt. Amarinder. I have just resigned as Chief Minister. Earlier, Amarinder Singh arrived at Siswan Farm House. There he held a meeting with his supporters, legislators and MPs. After the meeting, Amarinder's supporters arrived at the Congress Bhavan in the evening to attend the assembly party meeting. The Congress assembly party met on Saturday evening to appoint a new chief minister following Amarinder's resignation. Incumbent Congress state president Navjot Singh Sidhu and former Congress state president Sunil Jakhar are leading the race for the new chief ministership.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh handed over his resignation to Governor Banwari Lal Purohit. He was accompanied by Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, MP's wife Parneet Kaur and other senior colleagues. Amarinder held a meeting with his supporters before resigning. According to sources, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had on Saturday morning demanded Amarinder's resignation.

Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat and two central observers Ajay Maken and Harish Rai Chaudhary have reached Chandigarh for the Congress assembly party meeting at the Congress Bhawan to select the new chief minister. Preparations have been underway for the last few days to remove Amarinder Singh from the post of Chief Minister. Amarinder has threatened to resign as chief minister and leave the Congress. However, this could not be confirmed. With just six months to go before the Punjab Assembly elections, the Congress is again embroiled in controversy and has demanded the resignation of its strongest chief minister, Capt Amarinder.

Earlier, three days ago, 20 Congress MLAs had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi expressing distrust against Amarinder Singh and demanding a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party. Earlier on August 9, Congress MLAs had written a letter to the high command demanding a meeting. At the time, however, Amarinder persuaded disgruntled MLAs. In Punjab, after Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned as a minister in 2014, the rift between Amarinder and Navjot Singh has become public. Captain Amarinder was also annoyed with Sidhu's appointment as Punjab Congress president.