Amarinder Singh resigns from Congress, to ‘captain’ new political party

Captain Amarinder Singh has resigned from the Congress, barely over a month after he quit as Punjab chief minister amid internal strife within the party. Amarinder sent a seven-page resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Singh also announced to float a political party ‘Punjab Lok Congress’ ahead of the Assembly polls in Punjab which are due to be held early next year.

Singh resigned as the Punjab chief minister in September amid a bitter power tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Sidhu.

Sidhu himself resigned from the post later over the inclusion of some “tainted” ministers in Amarinder successor Charanjit Singh Channi’s cabinet.

Row within Punjab Congress as Centre extends BSF jurisdiction

Singh recently dismissed reports of back channel talks with the Congress as “incorrect”, saying the time for rapprochement was over and his decision to leave the party was final.

Soon after his resignation as chief minister, Singh had dismissed speculation that he was joining the BJP.

In media interactions, Amarinder has repeatedly launched scathing attacks against his rival, Sidhu, calling him “a childish man (who’s been ) given a serious job.”

He also blamed the Congress for forcing him to resign from the chief minister’s post by humiliating him on several occasions.

Punjab CM Channi, Sidhu land in controversy over private flight to Delhi

Singh had earlier said that he would soon launch his own party, and that he was hopeful of a seat adjustment with the BJP, breakaway Akali factions and others, provided the ongoing farmers’ stir against agriculture laws was resolved in the farmers’ interest.

 “I want to build strong collective force in interest of Punjab and its farmers,” Singh said.  He had also claimed that several Congress members are in touch with him.

Earlier this month, he approved of the Centre’s decision to to extend the Border Security Force’s (BSF) jurisdiction in Punjab. “BSF’s enhanced presence and powers will only make us stronger. Let’s not drag central armed forces into politics,” Singh tweeted.