Days after the state Congress was thrown into a crisis following a rift between Sidhu and CM Amarinder Singh, the final decision of appointment came on Sunday.
The Congress party appointed former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief (PCC) on Sunday, amid the infighting within the Punjab state unit of the party.
Sonia Gandhi, Congress President also named four working presidents for the Punjab unit of the party – Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goel and Kuljit Singh Nagra.
“The party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing PCC President, Shri Sunil Jakhar,” said the All India Congress Committee in a press release on Sunday. “Kuljit Singh Nagra will no longer be the party chief of Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura,” they added.
Hon'ble Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has appointed Shri Navjot Singh Sidhu as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect. The party appreciates the contributions of outgoing PCC President, Shri Sunil Jakhar. pic.twitter.com/2lviyzwMuV
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 18, 2021
Also read: Featured ‘Party Will Split’ By Sidhu’s Elevation, Amarinder Singh Warns Sonia In A Letter
The decision came days after the Punjab unit of the party was thrown into a crisis following a rift between Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Sidhu, who has reportedly been demanding a more prominent role in Congress. Singh and Sidhu have publicly criticised each other for months. Other party leaders have also revolted against the chief minister.
Harish Rawat, on July 12 had said that Singh will remain the chief minister but Jakhar would be replaced as the party chief of the state unit.
Former Union minister and Congress leader Ashwani Kumar, said that Sidhu will be an asset to Congress and in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. Both Sidhu and Singh will lead the party to victory, he added.
However, questions are bound to arise if Congress returns to power in March 2022, whether CM Singh would be their automatic choice or if Sidhu could be the favoured one with the Gandhis.
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