In an attempt to retain a Gandhi-puppet and a no-performing asset like Navjot Singh Sidhu, Congress humiliated former Punjab CM, Captain Amarinder Singh. As a consequence, Amarinder, along with his council of Ministers, have submitted their resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit. However, with his resignation, the speculation that he might join BJP has set the political circles abuzz.
Amarinder Singh, while resigning from his post, said that he made this decision because he felt humiliated by the way talks transpired, “I conveyed my message to Sonia Gandhi that I am going to resign. This is happening (CLP meeting) for the third time. I feel humiliated. They can make the person they trust the CM.” He further also added, “I’ve been in politics for 52 years. I will decide my future course after meeting with my guys. They (Cong) can choose whoever they trust. Of course am humiliated”.
Read more: Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has resigned
Pro-nation Amarinder shares good relations with Modi
While interacting with Republic Media after resignation, he chose to stay silent rather than denying when asked about joining any other party. He said, ‘It’s been two hours since I resigned. Let me see how things are, I’ve to talk to my people, MPs, MLAs. After speaking to them, once I make up my mind, I’ll decide.’
However, the resignation can lead him to join BJP, as he has always praised Prime Minister Modi for his pro-Nation stance. In the aftermath of the dastardly Pulwama attack, Captain had aggressively batted for the central government to retaliate and thus his inclusion might not be as divisive on the ideological lines.
Earlier this year, while Congress was attacking the government on the decision to provide free vaccines, Captain Amarinder Singh appreciated PM Modi and tweeted, “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for acceding to our request for central procurement and distribution of vaccine for all age groups. I had written twice to the PM on this issue and to health minister Harsh Vardhan ji.”
Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first one to congratulate Captain Singh when he took oath as the Punjab Chief Minister in 2017. He tweeted, “Congratulations Captain Amarinder Singh on taking oath as CM. Wishing you the very best in working for Punjab’s development.” Thus, connecting the dots, it can be assumed that Amarinder might join the BJP.
Congratulations @capt_amarinder on taking oath as CM. Wishing you the very best in working for Punjab’s development.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 16, 2017
Read more: Could Captain Amarinder Singh join the BJP?
Amarinder and his arch rival Sidhu
If Captain decides to stay within the party, the results could be hazardous, as he and Sidhu have can not see eye to eye because of their polar views – on one hand, Captain has a pro-nation stance, Sidhu, on the contrary, shares good relations with Pakistan and Imran Khan.
Amarinder has clearly stated, “I will fight on the issues that will ruin my state and I think Sidhu is absolutely wrong for the state, he’s a bad (kharaab) man. Cricketer doesn’t mean if you play good Cricket you’ll make a good CM. Obviously his target isn’t PPCC president, his target is being CM. And if he goes for Chief Ministership, I’ll oppose him. Because I know he’ll totally destroy my state.”
He further added, “I’ve said it from day 1 that he went. He’s a friend of Imran Khan, I said to not go, I was CM, he didn’t listen. Then he hugged Bajwa. Then he takes credit for Kartarpur. I asked why he hugged Bajwa when daily my Jawans were being killed at the border. He doesn’t care, he’s only interested in himself and his contacts in Pakistan. So what is there, what isn’t, is not for me to say, it’s for the central agencies to see.”
However, if Amarinder choose to jump ships from Congress to BJP, it will eventually benefit the latter, as the pro-Amarinder club will also move along with him. Moreover, if not for him, Congress would have lost the 2017 elections, and this time with this major turn of events, the 2022 election seems like a lost battle too.
