Navjot Singh Sidhu has come out all guns blazing against Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh. What was known to be an internal dislike which both leaders harboured for each other has now taken the turn of factionalism within the Congress’ state unit in Punjab. This, a year before the state heads for the Assembly polls. Navjot Singh Sidhu seems to be eyeing the chief minister’s post for himself this time around, and our hunch is that he has the support of the Congress high command for the same. Therefore, Sidhu has now fired a fresh salvo against Amarinder Singh.
In a tweet, the Amritsar East MLA shared a video of his aide Pargat Singh – MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment and said, “Ministers, MLAs and MPs raising People’s Issues are strengthening the Party, fulfilling their Democratic Duty and exercising their Constitutional Right…But everyone who speaks the truth becomes your enemy. Thus, you threaten your party colleagues, exhibiting your fear & insecurity.” In the video, Pargat Singh alleges that he has been threatened with a police case for speaking against the chief minister and his coterie. According to the former Indian Hockey team captain, the CM had conveyed the message through his political secretary Captain Sandeep Sandhu that he should be ready to face action.
Ministers, MLAs & MPs raising People’s Issues are strengthening the Party, fulfilling their Democratic Duty & exercising their Constitutional Right… But everyone who speaks the truth becomes your enemy. Thus, you threaten your party colleagues, exhibiting your fear & insecurity pic.twitter.com/fiq5klvDWO
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) May 18, 2021
It must be remembered that prior to pitching for himself as the chief ministerial face for the assembly polls in 2017, Captain Amarinder Singh had declared that he would be continuing in public office only for one term. Accordingly, the five years as chief minister were to be his last. However, he evidently had a change of heart as soon as he entered the chief minister’s office, and is now about to seek re-election as the chief minister next year. The Congress high command too, it seems, had agreed to Captain’s CM candidature since he projected it back then as his final innings.
Yet, a lot has changed between 2017 and 2021. Captain’s own image as a staunch nationalist and able administrator has taken a hit. His Covid-mismanagement, his flip-flopping on the issue of farm laws, inability to deliver on promises made five years ago and above all, charges of corruption against his government have all made the incumbent chief minister much less likable than what he was in 2017. Navjot Singh Sidhu, and his Gandhi bosses seem to have realised that this is the opportune time to strike and end Captain’s political career once and for all.
Captain Amarinder Singh was among the few leaders in the Congress who had the courage to stand up to the Gandhis and openly defy them. On occasions he continues to do so, but presently, he has become more of a Gandhi yes man than he was when the people of Punjab last voted for him. The vote of 2017 in Punjab was not a vote for the Congress, it was a vote in favour of Captain Amarinder Singh. Part of the Gandhis’ discomfort with Captain is his ability to win elections on his own merit. The Congress leadership feels that if there is one man who can cut them to size, it is Captain Amarinder Singh. Which is precisely why they want to do away with him as soon as possible. And now that the people of Punjab realise that he is no good in governance, the Aam Aadmi Party and BJP are expected to do well.
The BJP seems to be working on a formula of consolidating Punjabi Hindu and Dalit Sikh votes in Punjab. In Punjab, Dalit Sikhs constitute 31 per cent of Punjab’s electorate and Hindus comprise 38 per cent. If the BJP manages to win the support of these two sections of Punjabi society, it would form an invincible electoral coalition in the state. The Aam Aadmi Party is expected to fare well among the Jatt Sikhs, while the Akali Dal will, to some extent, continue to retain the panthic vote in the state. As such, there is really no room left for the Congress, unless the party makes itself over completely.
With Navjot Singh Sidhu, the Congress high command is trying to do just that. It is revamping its leadership in the state. It would not be an overstatement to suggest that Sidhu is a very likable figure in Punjab and the Congress is testing the waters with him upping the ante against Captain Amarinder Singh. The Gandhis, if not the people of Punjab, seem to have made their choice clear.