Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said on Wednesday that he has spoken to Navjot Singh Sidhu over the phone and invited him for discussions on issues the he has raised.

“I don’t have an ego,” the chief minister said that he wants to fight for the issues of Punjab.

Upon being asked by media personnel whether Sidhu’s resignation was an attempt to hurt the government, Channi emphatically said that this was not the case. 

Also Read | Against tainted leaders: Navjot Sidhu after resigning as Punjab Congress chief

The chief minister’s remarks come a day after Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned as the Punjab Congress chief,
the party’s state unit is reportedly working out a plan to appoint a successor
to the post if Sidhu cannot be convinced to remain.

The Congress is said to be
considering two-time MLA Kuljit Singh Nagara or MP Ravneet Singh Bittu take the
position of state Congress chief, according to an NDTV report.

Also Read | After Navjot Singh Sidhu’s exit, loyalists quit Punjab Congress Committee

Media reports say that several Congress MLAs and ministers showed up at
Navjot Singh Sidhu’s house in a bid to persuade him to reconsider his
resignation this morning.

Sidhu put out a video on Twitter listing the reasons
for his exit.

Sidhu’s explanation for giving up the post has sparked rumours of
tensions between him and the newly-appointed Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit
Singh Channi regarding cabinet appointments.

Also read | Twists and turns: Punjab Congress takes centre stage as Sidhu resigns

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s resignation on Monday had come as a shock to the
Congress since he was largely seen handling the party’s reins after Captain
Amarinder Singh resigned as Punjab chief minister, a move largely seen to be a
consequence of Sidhu’s political maneuvers.

Also Read | Kissa Kursi Ka: Archana Puran Singh’s funny take on Sidhu’s resignation

Congress’ Punjab state in-charge
Harish Rawat had only recently said that the party expects Sidhu to lead
Congress in next year’s assembly elections.

Now, with Sidhu having quit the post of the Punjab Congress chief, the party’s
state unit is in disarray.

Meanwhile, political tempers in Punjab are rising
amid the chaos with Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal in Punjab.

The chaos in Congress, political observers say, may see AAP benefit in Punjab.