The Congress Party said that Sidhu’s resignation has not yet been accepted and that the high command of Congress is in contact with him. The leadership has asked state leaders to first resolve the matter at their own level, congressional sources told the ANI news agency.
Sidhu resigned as head of the Punjab Pradesh Congressional Committee, plunging the party into a new crisis just months before the state assembly elections.
Sidhu resigned from the post shortly after portfolios were assigned to members of the new state cabinet.
In a letter to the president of Congress, Sonia Gandhi, he said that he will continue to serve the party.
Sidhu had assumed the position of state head of the party in July amid a leadership fight with Amarinder Singh, who resigned as CM 10 days ago while accusing the party’s high command of humiliating him.
The cricketer-turned-politician did not explain why he resigned.
“The collapse of a man’s character stems from the corner of compromise, I can never compromise the future of Punjab and the agenda for the well-being of Punjab,” he said in his letter to Sonia Gandhi.
“Therefore, I hereby resign as Chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congressional Committee. I will continue to serve the Congress,” he wrote.
Amarinder Singh, who had called Sidhu “dangerous” and “anti-national” and said he will face a strong candidate against him to ensure he does not become prime minister, reacted quickly.
“I told you … he is not a stable man who is not fit for the border state of Punjab,” the former CM tweeted.
The abrupt resignation took place on the day Amarinder Singh was on his way to Delhi.
Singh’s travel plan had sparked speculation that he might meet some BJP leaders.
His media aide, however, said that the congressional veteran had come to the capital on a personal visit and will be leaving Kapurthala House, where the Punjab CM remains during his trips to Delhi.
Sidhu’s resignation has also sparked speculation about the politician’s next move, who was with the BJP before joining Congress.
In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party claimed that Sidhu resigned because a poor man was appointed prime minister.
Channi, who took office last week, is the chief prime minister of the state’s Program Caste.
However, the opposition had been accused of being overshadowed by Sidhu, who, according to them, would end up being the face of the party when the assembly elections are held.
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