Congress leader Navjot Sidhu’s advisor Malwinder Singh Mali resigns

Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu’s advisor Malwinder Singh Mali resigned from his post on Friday, reports ANI.

“I withdraw my consent given for tendering suggestions to Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu,” wrote Malwinder Singh Mali on Facebook. 

Mali, in a his statement, blamed a host of leaders, including Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, party MP Manish Tiwari, SAD’s Sukhbir Badal, AAP’s Raghav Chaddha, for any harm caused to him.

Few days ago, Mali, in his Facebook post, suggested that both India and Pakistan were illegal occupants in Kashmir. A day after his post he said that his views were personal and nothing to do with any political party.

He has been also been targeting Punjab Chief Minister for days. Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat took up the issue with Sidhu over his advisor’s controversial statements and social media posts.

Mali posted a sketch of former Indian PM Indira Gandhi holding gun with human skulls. The party leadership has pointed out that such posts by Mali was providing counter-productive for the Congress.

This drew sharp criticism from both within and outside the party. Amarinder Singh, taking exception to the comments, asked Sidhu to rein in his advisors. Sidhu did summon both but what transpired at the meeting was not known. 

For years now, Sidhu and Singh are engaged in a running feud after the cricketer-turned-politician resigned as a state minister in 2019. He had switched sides from the BJP to the Congress before the 2017 Assembly polls.

In July, the Congress high command stepped in and decided to elevate Sidhu to PCC chief’s post. Amarinder Singh was not happy about the decision but gave in to the Gandhis. The peace formula was shortlived as Sidhu continued to take potshots at the CM and his government, criticising his way of functioning.

The Sidhu camp — including 23 party MLAs — sought the Chief Minister’s resignation few days back. This was matched by Amarinder Singh loyalists – five ministers and one MLA – demanding action against Sidhu’s advisors.

But, the part snubbed the Sidhu camp and made it clear that Amarinder Singh would lead the party into assembly elections due early next year. How Sidhu responds to back-to-back pushback by the party remains to be seen.