Congress leadership had decided to contest the elections in Punjab under “Collective Leadership”. Despite this, state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu was continuously pressurizing Congress leadership through Social Media to declare him as the CM Face in Punjab. Due to this, There was a long tussle between Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu. But, this tussle seems to be ending now. Congress, which talked about “Collective Leadership” in the 2022 Punjab elections, has released a video on its official Twitter account telling, how a CM should be. It is visible in this video that the Congress leadership has finalized the name of Charanjit Singh Channi as the CM face in the 2022 Punjab elections. However, an official announcement is yet to be made. So, if Channi is announced as the CM candidate, what will Sidhu do now?
What’s in the Video?
In the video shared by Congress on Twitter, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood is seen saying: “Real Chief Minister is the one who is forcibly brought to the chair. He should not have to fight for the Chair. He shouldn’t be saying I am the Chief Minister Candidate. He should be the one who is a backbencher brought from behind and told that you would be the Chief Minister”. After this, video footage of different programs of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi plays in this video. After watching this video, one can easily guess that Congress leadership has decided that instead of Navjot Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Channi will be made the CM after party’s win.
What are the options for Sidhu?
These days, Navjot Singh Sidhu is roaming everywhere promoting his ‘Punjab Model’. In fact, through this Punjab model, Sidhu wants to pressure Congress leadership that the Punjab Model should be given a place in the manifesto of Punjab Congress. But, in this case, he has already got a setback from Congress because Navjot Singh Sidhu has not been kept in the Manifesto Committee of Congress. By the way, it was clear since this decision that Sidhu does not hold much importance for Congress leadership.
In a series of Tweets, Navjot Singh Sidhu has written that ‘complete control of the Government on sand mining is the only solution’. In Sidhu’s Punjab Model, there is the promise of ending the contract system and selling sand at a fixed price. As long as the contracting practice continues, it is difficult for people to get cheap sand. This tweet is being seen as directly targeting Charanjit Singh Channi because Navjot Singh Sidhu has been attacking Charanjit Singh Channi through Twitter in the past. By the way, before the 2022 Punjab Elections, if Congress leadership sidelines Channi on these allegations, then it may cause a loss of “Dalit Votes” in the state. This decision will directly harm Congress in Punjab. So, Congress taking such a step is Highly Unlikely.
Despite this changed situation, Making Navjot Singh Sidhu the CM Face isn’t easy. The relationship between Sidhu and Congress leadership is no longer the same. We can gauge this because Navjot Singh Sidhu had attended only the first two meetings out of four meetings held with Rahul Gandhi after Channi was made the CM. A few days later, Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the post of State Congress President. However, On the persuasion of Congress leadership, he agreed. But, to withdraw the resignation, Sidhu had put a condition to change the AG & DGP, which was accepted. At the same time, if Navjot Singh Sidhu again resigns, then it will cause harm to him only. Because, in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party has also declared Bhagwant Mann as its CM candidate.
Now, Navjot Singh Sidhu has only one option left to wait for the results of Punjab Election 2022 and mobilize the MLAs in his favor. But, for this, he will have to get tickets for his close aids. However, there is little hope for this too. After all, anything can happen in politics and Sidhu would try his best to outshine Channi in Punjab elections.
