Devendra Singh’s appointment as the new in-charge of the Punjab Congress presents a significant challenge: to quell the escalating conflict between Navjot Singh Sidhu and other members within the party. He has yet to display alignment with the state leadership under the India Alliance.
Senior Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu extended a warm welcome to Devendra Yadav, newly appointed as the head of the Punjab Congress unit. He expressed his sentiments via social media, describing Devendra Yadav’s arrival as a breath of fresh air.
In recent days, Sidhu held a rally in Bathinda, where Partap Singh Bajwa cautioned him against establishing a separate stage.
The rift between Sidhu and Bajwa appears to intensify.
Punjab Congress has witnessed internal turmoil lately. When Congress leaders, under Navjot Singh Sidhu’s leadership, rallied in Meharaj, Bathinda, Pratap Singh Bajwa criticized their actions. He advised Sidhu against setting up a separate stage, urging him to align with the party’s vision and refrain from creating divisions.
While Sidhu led the Congress to 78 out of 117 seats in the last assembly elections, there’s been ongoing strife within the party.
Sidhu countered, stating, “I’d be delighted if 100 Congress members gathered in a village or town, advocating the Congress ideology, promoting Punjab’s revival, and holding the current government accountable for public welfare.
It doesn’t matter which Congress leader they invite as a chief guest. It strengthens our party because more people’s involvement will build grassroots leadership.”
He assumes the responsibility of overseeing the Congress when only six months remain until the Lok Sabha elections. Following the turbulent 2022 state assembly elections, the party leadership is divided over aligning with the Indian Alliance. Punjab Congress leaders are opposed to the alliance.
The scenario witnesses Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and Navjot Singh Sidhu siding with the AAP alliance, while Harish Choudhary maintains his loyalty to the party, refraining from expressing personal opinions. However, Choudhary’s attempts to mediate between the state unit and the high command were unsuccessful.
In 2017, Congress formed the government in Punjab under Captain Amarinder Singh’s leadership.
The party returned to power in the state after ten years, securing 78 seats. Subsequently, internal rifts surfaced, and opposition against Captain Amarinder Singh began, impacting the government’s functioning.
During that time, Sidhu emerged as a prominent figure. Harish Rawat was in charge of Uttarakhand at the time. In 2022, Sidhu was appointed the Congress chief, yet the situation remained unchanged.
After Captain’s removal and Charanjit Singh Channi’s appointment as Chief Minister, Sidhu resigned from the chief position.
Rawat became active in Uttarakhand’s politics again. He was replaced by Harish Choudhary as Congress in-charge. Despite these changes, no improvement occurred; the party dwindled from 78 to 18 seats in the assembly elections.
