Inside track: What led to Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 28

Navjot Singh Sidhu sent the Congress party into a tizzy with the announcement of his resignation on Twitter. So, was it a sudden decision or the tension between Sidhu and the party high command was simmering?

Reliable party sources attribute the Sidhu resignation to five main reasons.

One, the main trigger point apparently, was the induction of tainted MLA Rana Gurjit Singh and some other ministers (who face allegation of corruption). Sidhu had tried to resist the move but was overruled.

Read also:

• Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns as Punjab Congress chief
• ‘Will sit and talk to Sidhu, he is party president’: Punjab CM Channi
• AAP, BJP train guns at Navjot Singh Sidhu after his resignation as Punjab Congress chief

Secondly, as against the recommendations of the names made to the party high command for inclusion in Cabinet, only one aide, Pargat Singh was inducted. Congress high command had started ignoring him in discussions on the Cabinet expansion.

Thirdly, the appointment of Advocate General, APS Deol who had legally defended former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in Behbal Kalan police firing case. The high command had also ignored his take on top government appointments.

Fourth, the allocation of Home department portfolio to Sukhjinder Randhawa. Sidhu had played a role in elevation of Channi as CM to stop Randhawa from becoming the CM. But with allocation of an important portfolio to Randhawa, Sidhu felt slighted.

Fifth, Sidhu’s interference in functioning of the Channi government was not allowed and he was asked to focus on party affairs.