For almost two years, Congress’ ‘firebrand’ leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has virtually been belling the cat by speaking against his own party’s government in Punjab. But with his appointment as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief, Sidhu may find himself in a situation where he may have to unring the bell.
On collision course with his own party’s Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for not acting against the guilty in sacrilege and drugs cases, or against various mafias — like transport, cable, liquor, sand — operating freely in the State since the Badal regime, Sidhu did not mince a single word to take on the Patiala Royal.
Right from accusing the Chief Minister of “playing fixed match” with 75:25 partnership with the Akalis, to calling him “a liar” during media interviews recently, Sidhu did more harm to the Congress party than any good, besides damaging Capt Amarinder’s already-criticised image.
Now as Sidhu has been handed over the party reins, the main challenge ahead of him would be undoing the damage he has already done to the party with elections just about just six months away. The main question would be how Sidhu would defend the same party and the Government which he has all along been criticising since the past two years.
BRIDGING GAPS WITH CM
Another major challenge ahead Sidhu is to bridge the gap, he has widened over these years, with the party’s Chief Minister — a prerequisite to sail the party’s dwindling ship through rough political weathers it was expected to face during 2022 state assembly polls.
As both Sidhu and Capt Amarinder are Patialvis, they first need to sort it out among themselves, before kicking off the party's election campaign as already, a lot of time was lost while ironing out the differences within the party, and deciding upon the change of guard.
Even as the party has visibly been divided into two power centres, bringing both the factions together on one platform would be a herculean task for Sidhu, and which could only be accomplished after putting an end to his cold war with Capt Amarinder.
As of now, Sidhu is enjoying the support of about 30 legislators, including those who were once the staunch Capt Amarinder loyalists — including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, among others.
FIGHTING ANTI-INCUMBENCY
However, the biggest challenge before Sidhu would be countering the strong anti-incumbency against the incumbent Congress Government which has failed to fulfil its pre poll promises — something which the former cricketer has all along been raising.
Be it punishing the guilty for sacrilege incidents of police firing or those in drugs cases, providing jobs to all, eliminating drugs, providing cheap power, putting an end to mafias, among others — Sidhu has criticised his own party’s government on all these issues.
It would be interesting to see how Sidhu would strategise as the ruling party seeks votes on its performance, not by pleading for another chance after betraying the electorate.
Notably, the Congress returned to power in Punjab after 10 years of SAD-BJP regime, by securing two-third majority.