Sulking Sidhu meets aides; action shifts to Yadavindra Enclave—his Patiala home

Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, September 28

Congress leaders close to Navjot Singh Sidhu are asking him to change his mind, a source said on Tuesday—hours after Sidhu stepped down as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief.

Several senior Congress leaders, including Kuljit Nagra; Inderjit Bularia; Razia Sultana; and Kulwinder Danny, were huddled together with Sidhu at the latter’s ancestral home in Patiala, Yadavindra Enclave. Pargat Singh, an MLA from Jalandhar Cantt who was recently sworn in as a minister for the first time, is also believed to have joined the meeting.

Some leaders have said that his decision could backfire.

“We have asked him to rethink on his decision to quit at this juncture, if not for himself then for the Congress leaders who stood by him,” an MLA said.

Some 100 senior workers of the Congress party are expected to reach his Patiala residence and submit their own resignations in support of their leader, sources said.

“We back the decision of Sidhu, who has done the right thing by resigning,” they said.

A source claimed Sidhu has refused to rethink “with present political changes in the government”. 

“I have promised the people of Punjab that I will keep their interests above everything and I will not compromise on it," Sidhu is learnt to have told his party leaders in the meeting, adding he could not be a mere “puppet in the hands of the party high command”.

• Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns as Punjab Congress chief
• Razia Sultana resigns from Punjab Cabinet 'in solidarity with Navjot Singh Sidhu'
• Navjot Singh Sidhu preparing ground to leave, Sonia should accept resignation: Capt Amarinder Singh
• Punjab portfolios announced; Randhawa gets home, Soni health, Mohindra local govt, Badal finance

Close aides say he had told no one of his decision to resign.

Sources say that a section of Congress MLAs have requested Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to “strictly ask party leaders not to promote groupies”.

An MLA warned of possible splinters in the party.

The party could be splintered, especially since many leaders have begun to feel “politically directionless”.

Some members of the PPCC who have given their resignation "verbally" are also at the meeting, sources said. 

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