Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is at loggerheads with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, skipped the first Cabinet meeting on Thursday. This was the first meeting of the Cabinet after the Lok Sabha elections.
Sidhu said that him skipping the meet was a mark of his protest against being unfairly blamed for the Congress' poor show. He addressed the media with a bunch of papers in his hand and said Congress won in big numbers in the urban areas.
Amarinder had recently said he intended to change the cricketer-turned-politician's portfolio of local government department over the party's performance in the Lok Sabha polls.
Sidhu, while making his absence felt, said that he and his department has been unfairly singled out for the poor performance of the Congress in the urban areas.
"Urban seats had a pivotal role in Congress party's win in Lok Sabha elections in the state. Chief Minister gave me responsibility of two districts in Punjab. We won big in these two districts," news agency ANI quoted Sidhu as saying.
He further said that one must have the ability to see things in the right perspective.
"I cannot be taken for granted. I have been a performer throughout. I am answerable to the people of Punjab,” he added.
Crucial decisions, including changes in Cabinet portfolios, are likely to be taken at the meeting, presided over by Amarinder Singh.
In the recently held general election, Congress won eight out of the 13 seats. The SAD-BJP combine won four while the AAP managed to win only one seat.
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