Three possible reasons why Navjot Singh Sidhu tendered his resignation

Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from his post on Tuesday. In his letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Navjot Singh Sidhu wrote, “The collapse of a man’s character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab’s future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as the President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress.” 

The decision of Navjot Singh Sidhu has come as a major surprise for the Congress, especially the Gandhis and other members of the top leadership in Delhi. 

Also read: Not a stable man: Amarinder Singh on Navjot Sidhu after he resigns as Punjab Congress chief

Here are three reasons why the cricketer-turned-politician quit from Congress chief post:

a. In a report, Hindusthan Times said that the Congress high command endorsed Navjot Singh Sidhu’s choice of Charanjit Singh Channi as Punjab’s first Dalit chief minister, it nixed his opposition to the appointment of Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, a prominent Jat Sikh face, as deputy chief minister.

Also read: Can never compromise: Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns as Punjab Congress chief

However, Sidhu, also a Jat Sikh, viewed Randhawa’s elevation as a threat to his chief ministerial ambitions in the 2022 assembly poll sweepstakes. Sidhu was miffed at being overruled on Randhawa, who had made a common cause with him in the rebellion against Amarinder.

b. On Sunday, Sidhu was riled over a limited say in the formation of the 15-minister cabinet. The cabinet had a stamp of Rahul Gandhi, who didn’t go by Sidhu’s bidding for ministerial berths for his loyalists Kuljit Singh Nagra and Surjit Singh Dhiman.

c. The return of Rana Gurjit Singh to the cabinet was another added insult to Navjot Singh Sidhu. Gurjit Singh return to the cabinet comes four years after he had to quit the Amarinder Singh-led ministry over allegations of his collusion in the sand auction scam.

Sidhu had doggedly opposed Rana’s comeback, but the high command overlooked his objections and that of eight party MLAs from the Doaba region.