CHANDIGARH: It is not only a section of Punjab Congress leaders tryiong to block Navjot Sidhu from occupying the top post, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is little more concerned about it.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal seems to have purturbed than Congress leaders over appoinment of Navjot Sidhu as Punjab Congress president. He has opened front against Navjot Sidhu making sharp attacks on him and his style of functioning.
Sukhbir Singh Badal president of SAD has attacked Sidhu in his public meeting at Ludhiana today and alleged that Sidhu is not a mass leader. He said that Punjab would not need a Chief Minister who is only expert oflaughter and telling jokes. He also called Navjot Sidhu an immature and self centered leader. SAD keaders also seem batting for Capt Amarinder Singh in the infighting in Congress party.
Being BJP MP from Amritsar, Navjot Sidhu had faced stiff opposition from SSD leaders Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia and the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had used his influence not to give party ticket for Lok Sabha to Sidhu from Amritsar. Navjot Sidhu has been taking Sukhbir Singh Badal to task for alleged involvement in cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and being mastermind of mining, cable, drug and transport mafia.
Navjot was always vocal against Badal family and hold them esponsible for all the ills of Punjab. He was among Congress leaders who demanded arrest of Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal in cases related to sacrilege of Guru Grnath Sahib. He spoke openly against tranport mafia and sought to know from Chief Minister how transport mafia headed by Sukhbir Badal is flourishing in the state.
It is in the interest of Badals not to allow Navjot Sidhu to grow to capture post of CM in future. They have old scores to sattle with each other. Sidhu had named Bikram Majitha king pin of drug mafia in Punjab and Sukhbir king pin of transport and mining mafias. Capt Amarinder Singh government has played soft on Badal family as per general preception and allegations made by Navjot Sidhu.
The Congress leaders loyal To Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh have joined hands against appointment of Navjot Sidhu as PPCC Chief. Atleast 10 of 70 Congress MLAS have signed a letter in support of Capt Amarinder Singh. Even Partap Singh Bajwa former PPCC president and now Rajya Sabha MP was seen standing with Capt Amarinder Singh, both arch rival and copetitors for post of Chief Minister. They seems to have common cause to stop emegence of Navjot Sidhu to stop him from being projected as next CM if Congress wins the 2012 elections.
Capt Amarinder Singh is still a biggest Congess leader in state and holds influence over large section of party. He is in position to oppose the Congress high command in taking any decision against his interests. He is not ready to accept the decision unless Sidhu apologise from him publically for over 150 tweets posted by Sidhu.
Navjot Sidhu has full backing of party high command and he was signalled to garner support for him. Sidhu is contacting party MLAs before formal announcement of his appointment.
Interestingly, bioth Captain and Navjot belonged to Patiala and same Sidhu clan. Sidhu's father was a Congress man president of DCC Patiala and a friend of Capt Amarinder Singh.