Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, is among Congress' stalwart leaders and would be a key candidate of the grand old party in the forthcoming Punjab Assembly Elections 2022. He was born on October 20, 1963. Navjot Sidhu will be contesting election from Amritsar (East) constituency. Polling in Punjab will be held in one single phase on February 20. Navjot Singh Sidhu has been a professional cricketer and part of the Indian cricket team who retired from international cricket in 1999. Navjot Sidhu began his political innings with BJP and won the Lok Sabha election from the Amritsar seat in 2004. With many ups and downs during his tenure with BJP, Sidhu joined Congress in 2017 and since then has been part of the party. For over two years now, Sidhu has remained part of various controversies and in-party fighting. First, Sidhu was widely criticised for hugging Pakistan army chief and Imran Khan during the inauguration ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor while post that Sidhu has remained surrounded with in-party fighting in the Punjab unit of Congress. Sidhu upped the ante against former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the quest to push himself for the top job in the state. Though, the Congress party did not elevate him as Chief Minister of state but made him the President of PPCC. In the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab, Sidhu who is being constantly attacked by several party leaders from Amarinder Singh's camp is expected to face a tough contest, both from within the party and opposition. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at several public platforms has challenged Sidhu saying that he will not let Sidhu become the next chief minister of Punjab as the latter is a threat to national security due to his closeness with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and its Army Chief.
Read More
The newly-appointed Punjab Congress chief along with his four working presidents is going to take formal charge on July 23, Friday.
Earlier in the day, in what is seen as a show of strength, nearly 60 Congress MLAs gathered at the residence of new state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, amid suspense over a possible truce between him and CM Amarinder Singh.
Sources close to Sidhu said that he is unlikely to offer any apology as demanded by CM Amarinder Singh, who is yet to meet or congratulate the former Amritsar MP for his elevation as Punjab Congress president.
Senior Punjab Cabinet Minister Brahm Mahindra on Tuesday too welcomed the appointment of Navjot Singh Sidhu as the PPCC President but ruled out a personal meeting with him till he resolves his issues with Chief Minister.
Navjot Singh Sidhu was on Sunday appointed as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, despite a major opposition by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
Amid a political tussle over the likely elevation of Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu as the state Congress chief, at least 10 MLAs on Sunday issued a joint statement in support of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and urged the party high command not to "let him down".
As per the new formula chalked out by Congress high command Sonia Gandhi to bring Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu onboard, the new state chief will get two working presidents and two deputy CMs.
If sources are to be believed, Captain has agreed to Sidhu's elevation but with conditions apply. The CM has said to have agreed to the arrangements after meeting AICC general secretary and Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has made it clear that the face of the party in Punjab is Captain Amarinder Singh and if there is any difference, it should be resolved internally.
Navjot Singh Sidhu met Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday.
Captain Amarinder Singh also said that the situation in Punjab is not so favorable and in the days to come the party may have to bear the loss of interference and decisions being taken by the high command.
Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday met party chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence in Delhi. The meeting comes ahead of the party's Punjab unit revamp.
Earlier in the day, Amarinder spoke with Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi to register his protest over the party's decision to make Sidhu president of the state unit.
While Captain Amarinder Singh will be the campaign committee chief, PS Bajwa is likely to be the manifesto committee chairman.
Anil Vij's reaction amid Punjab Congress' infighting has come when speculations are rising that Navjot Singh Sidhu may switch sides again.
Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal has said he felt "encouraged" as even opposition leaders are talking about his party.
There will be good news for Punjab Congress, said Congress General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, Harish Rawat after meeting Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
The Congress leadership is trying to work out a formula to accommodate all sections and give a prominent role to Navjot Singh Sidhu, either in the state cabinet or in the organisation.
Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday made a fresh demand for nullifying the power purchase agreements in Punjab through a law.
According to the website of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd, the electricity charges to the tune of Rs 8,67,540 of his Amritsar home are yet to be paid, with July 2 as the last date for making payment.
Top News
Trending News
Latest News
