SATISH HANDA
Navjot Singh Sidhu’s resignation from the post of party president in Punjab within few days after his appointment is a severe shock to Congress high command and proves that the former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh had rightly said that Sidhu possesses unstable attitude similar to a misguided missile posing a threat to country’s security as well as Punjab state neighbouring Pakistan due to his close relations with Imran Khan and Pakistan army general. Sidhu’s attitude had compelled Captain Amrinder to submit his resignation to Congress high command from the chair of Chief Minister, which brought severe crisis to Congress high command, party’s reputation in the state as well as damaged party all over in the country. Most of the residents in Punjab are raising a question over Congress high command acting like a Private Limited Company having only three members of a family Smt Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to take important decisions and neglected a senior Congress leader like Capt Amrinder Singh associated with the party since past about five decades.
Past Congress party scenario reveals, it has been insulting senior Congress leaders in pasts years also including T. Anjeya then Chief Minister Andhra Pradesh when late Rajiv Gandhi was party general secretary followed by Virender Patel then Karnatka Chief Minister. Similarly, Telgu Desam party came into existence in 1982suffering political shocks since then. Most of the senior Congress leaders having a long list either started separate political parties after leaving Congress or migrated to other political parties which include the names of H.D. Devgoda, Ramkishen Hegde, Chanderbabu Naidu, V.P. Singh, Mamta Banerjee, J. Sindhia and many more.
A information reveals, during Nehru and Indira Gandhi era Congress was having 42-45% share in the votes having victory over 65% Lok Sabha seats. In 1957 Lok Sabha polls Congress was able to get 47.8% votes and after Indira Gandhi’s murder the party was able to get 48.1`% votes in Lok Sabha elections. But between years 2000 to 2010 Congress vote bank witnessed drop getting 25-28% votes in Lok Sabha polls and during last Lok Sabha polls it slashed to only 19.7% votes. Not only in Punjab state, Congress is facing political storm in the party, even in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh too rift between leaders making party weak and Congress high command unable to control.
Surprisingly, when talked to several influential persons in Punjab they wanted to know under what circumstances, Congress high command, especial Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra neglected a senior and heavy weight Congress leader Capt Amrinder Singh former Punjab Chief Minister associated with the party since past over five decades also having good image in the state given importance to Navjot Sidhu had left BJP and joined Congress sometime ago forced Congress high command to dance at his tune as a result Capt Amrinder Singh feeling insulted resigned from the chair of Punjab Chief Minister at the time when next Vidhan Sabha polls are approaching and now Sidhu forcing new Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also to dance at his tune as if he is Super Chief Minister in Punjab.
