Navjot Sidhu’s elevation brings cheers to his supporters in Amritsar

PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 19

Supporters of cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu are upbeat following his elevation as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief. They distributed sweets and danced to the beat of dhols at his residence located in the Holy City locality.

District Congress Committee (rural) president Bhagwantpal Singh Sachar along with prominent Congress workers from rural areas also held celebrations while welcoming the move and senior leadership of the Indian National Congress.

Sidhu’s elevation as the PPCC president has not only given rise to new equations in the holy city politics, but also instilled Congress workers with new enthusiasm. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s loyalists were conspicuous by their absence from these celebrations. As Assembly poll were just round the corner, taking them along during these times would be a major challenge for him.

During the tussle with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, many prominent Congress party leaders had maintained a distance from him.

It would be interesting to see the presence of several local leaders, including Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu and Amritsar Improvement Trust chairman Dinesh Bassi and Congress (urban) president Jatinder Sonia, who are directly associated with the Amarinder camp. Their appointments to the respective positions were made without taking Sidhu into confidence.

Recently, amid Capt-Sidhu feud over their supremacy, it was Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu who got installed big hoardings in favour of Capt Amarinder with slogans such as ‘Punjab Da Ik hi Captain’. He pasted his pictures alongside on the hoarding declaring allegiance to Capt Amarinder Singh.

A day prior to Sidhu’s visit, Rural Congress chief Bhagwantpal Singh Sachar conducted a meeting with prominent rural leaders on Monday and welcomed the move.

Party workers were upbeat with Sidhu taking the command of Punjab Congress. “With Sidhu’s elevation, there is a new enthusiasm among party workers especially the youth. Sidhu in commanding position will garner unconditional win for the Congress in the ensuing 2022 poll,” he said. He said even the toughest seat of Majitha could be in Congress’ pocket.