Citing next year's assembly elections in Uttarakhand, where he is the Congress's campaign committee chairman, Harish Rawat has sought to be relieved as the in-charge of party affairs in Punjab.
He said that to concentrate on the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, it had been on his mind to seek to be relieved of the responsibility of the party's Punjab affairs in-charge.
"Yes, this is the reason," the former Uttarakhand Chief Minister told reporters in Dehradun on Thursday when asked if he has sought to be relieved of the charge as Punjab affairs in-charge so that he could concentrate on the upcoming polls in his state.
He added that he would abide by whatever direction is given to him by the party.
"If my party asks me to continue (as Punjab affairs in-charge), I will continue," said Mr Rawat.
Both Punjab and Uttarakhand will go to polls next year.
While the Congress is seeking to retain power in Punjab, it aims to return to power by defeating the ruling BJP in the hill state.
Punjab is witnessing a tussle between the camps of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Harish Rawat, who is currently in Delhi to meet the party's senior leadership, had recently said next year's Punjab Assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Amarinder Singh, delivering a snub to the leaders wanting his removal.
Mr Rawat had also said that there was no threat to the Amarinder Singh-led government in Punjab.
Reacting to Navjot Sidhu's statement urging the party high command to allow him the freedom to take decisions, Mr Rawat said party chiefs are free to take their decisions within the party's norms and constitution.
"I will see the context in which Navjot Singh Sidhu has made these remarks. Mr Sidhu is the respected chief of the Punjab unit. Who will have the power to take decisions if not the state presidents," he told reporters in Delhi on Friday.
Mr Rawat added state presidents are free to take decisions within the party's constitution and position.
Navjot Sidhu had said earlier that the party high command should give him the freedom to take decisions and he will ensure that the Congress remains in power for the next 20 years. He said he has prepared a roadmap in this regard.
"The party high command should allow me the freedom to take decisions, else I will give a befitting reply," he said addressing a meeting in Amritsar.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Navjot Singh Sidhu Reveals Why He Left Kapil Sharma's Show, Wishes For The Original Gang To "Get Together" The Great Indian Kapil Show: Navjot Singh Sidhu Comes Back 5 Years After Exit, Check Out Archana Puran Singh's Reaction Navjot Singh Sidhu Hails Virat Kohli's T20 World Cup Final Knock With Hilarious Reference Late Flight, Emergency Landing, Stuck For 3 Days: Indian Fliers' Nightmare Putin Responds To Biden's Missile Approval By Changing Nuclear Doctrine Explained: Why Delhi's AQI Was 494 Today But International Monitor Said 1,600 Tamil Nadu To Use AI Alerts To Protect Wild Elephants From Railway Tracks Can't Present Award In MS Subbulakshmi's Name To TM Krishna: Court SSC Released Exam Dates For CGL Tier-II, GD Constable, And Stenographer Skill Test Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.