Sidhu who replaced Sunil Jakhar as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief, was elevated to the position despite Amarinder Singh’s strong reservations. He also shared a picture of his father with India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Navjot Singh Sidhu leaves for Chandigarh from his residence in Patiala, on Monday. Pic/PTI
“My journey has just begun,” Punjab Congress’ new president Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Monday, a day after being appointed to the key post after months of a bitter, polarising spat between him and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
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“Will work along every member of Congress family in Punjab to fulfil the mission of ‘JittegaPunjab’ as a humble Congress worker to give power of the people back to the people through the Punjab model and the high command’s 18-point agenda ... My journey has just begun,” the cricketer-turned-politician tweeted.
“Today, to work further for the same dream and strengthen the invincible fort of the Congress in Punjab. I am grateful to Hon’ble Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for bestowing their faith in me and giving me this pivotal responsibility,” he said on Twitter.
Sidhu who replaced Sunil Jakhar as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief, was elevated to the position despite Amarinder Singh’s strong reservations. He also shared a picture of his father with India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“To share prosperity, privilege and freedom not just among a few but among all, My father a Congress worker left a royal household and joined the freedom struggle, was sentenced to death for his patriotic work reprieved by the King’s Amnesty became DCC President, MLA, MLC and advocate general,” Sidhu added in a Twitter post.
The Congress has also appointed four working presidents to assist Sidhu in the run-up to the assembly elections due early next year.
With the decision to ignore Amarinder Singh’s opposition — “he is learnt to have told Sonia Gandhi he will not meet Sidhu till he publicly apologises for his attacks on him in the recent past” — the party leadership has clearly signalled it is putting its weight behind Sidhu.
The leadership feels Sidhu can lead the party’s campaign with fresh energy and enthusiasm and help ensure its victory in 2022 assembly polls, party insiders said. Sidhu now faces the challenge of uniting the party and bringing cohesion in its ranks.
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Day, this month, Sidhu was made Punjab Cong chief
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