Amarinder Singh met the state Governor at the Raj Bhawan and handed over his resignation.
Amarinder Singh, under pressure from the Congress, resigned as Punjab Chief Minister this afternoon. He met the state Governor at the Raj Bhawan and handed over his resignation.
Putting a lid on the will he, won't he question, it was Amarinder Singh's son, Raninder Singh, who announced that his father would be resigning and lead "our family into a new beginning".
Mr Singh, in his first comments to the press, said he called up party chief Sonia Gandhi this morning informing her of his decision to quit, adding that "he felt humiliated".
Here are the LIVE updates on the Punjab Congress Crisis:
Won't Accept Navjot Sidhu As Congress's Face In Punjab: Amarinder SinghAmarinder Singh, who stepped down as Chief Minister on Saturday following an escalation in the political crisis in the state stemming from a bitter tussle with rival Navjot Singh Sidhu, ruled out accepting his party colleague as his successor and left the door open on leaving the Congress.
"For the sake of my country, I'll oppose his (Navjot Singh Sidhu) name for Chief Minister of Punjab. It's a matter of national security. Pakistan PM Imran Khan is his friend. Sidhu has a relation with Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa," Mr Singh told NDTV.
Read here. Punjab governor accepts Amarinder Singh's resignationPunjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has accepted Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's resignation. The governor, however, has asked him and his council of ministers to continue in office for the transaction of routine business till alternative arrangements are made, according to an official statement.
"Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit accepted his (Amarinder) resignation and that of his council of ministers," said the statement.
Navjot Singh Sidhu has connection with Pakistan: Amarinder Singh
Navjot Singh Sidhu Unstable: Amarinder Singh After Quitting As Punjab Chief Minister
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu is an incompetent man... something is unstable, says Amarinder Singh after quitting as Punjab chief minister.
Two resolutions passed during Punjab MLAs meeting
Two resolutions were passed during Punjab MLAs meeting - Thanking outgoing Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and authorising the Congress President to choose the next Legislative Party leader.
We'll Abide By High Command Decision: Punjab Congress MLAs
Punjab Congress MLAs, after meeting, say "will accept party leadership's decision" after chief minister Amarinder Singh quits.
Punjab Congress MLAs meet after Amarinder Singh quits as chief minister
Punjab Congress MLAs are meeting after the chief minister resigned today.
A sudden meeting of Punjab MLAs announced by the Congress late last night, with big hints that a majority of them had asked for change, had driven a crisis of months to breaking point.
"I Am Still In Congress": Amarinder Singh After Resigning
"There is always an option, and I will use that option when the time comes...at the moment I am still in Congress," said Amarinder Singh.
Amarinder Singh Quits As Punjab Chief Minister
"I'll Exercise My Options When The Time Comes": Amarinder Singh After Resigning
Amarinder Singh, who resigned as Punjab Chief Minister a short while ago, maintained that he is in the Congress party and will consult his supporters before deciding the future course of action. He said he made up his mind to resign this morning and told Sonia Gandhi that he "feels humiliated".
"I feel Humiliated": Amarinder Singh In First Comments To Press
"This is happening (calling a meeting) for the third time...There is an element of doubt regarding me. I feel humiliated," said the Chief Minister in his first comments to the press after resigning.
Amarinder Singh Resigns As Punjab Chief Minister
Amarinder Singh, under pressure from the Congress, has resigned as Punjab Chief Minister. He met the state Governor at the Raj Bhawan and handed over his resignation.
Amarinder Singh At Governor's House
Amarinder Singh is here at the Governor's house. However, shortly before the Chief Minister's arrival, his son had tweeted saying that his father will be resigning, ending intense speculation over the events. The Congress has called a meeting of its legislators at 5 pm.
Amarinder Singh's Son Tweets Father Will Resign Today
Amrinder Singh's son tweeted today saying he will accompany his father as he hands over the resignation to the state governor. "Haha indeed indeed must go now as I am proud to accompany my father to Raj Bhawan when he submits his resignation as CM of Punjab and leads us as head of our family into a new beginning et all," read Raninder Singh's tweet.
Punjab Goes To Polls Early Next Year
Punjab goes to polls early next year. Congress has only a skinny group of states in which it is in government and would not like to see one of those drop of its map. The Punjab churning, which has been going on for better part of this year, seems headed to an explosive denouement.
Amarinder Singh Runs Out Of MLAs Ahead Of Party Meet
Amarinder Singh, who was put on notice by the Congress, had called a meeting of his loyalist MLAs ahead of the key meet of party legislators after they revolted against the Chief Minister. Mr Singh could only muster four ministers and 11 MLAs, 15 in total, in his camp.
Amarinder Singh To Address Press Conference At 4:30pm
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will be meeting the state governor shortly, a sign that he is likely to resign. Mr Singh will address a press conference from the gates of Raj Bhawan. He will live to fight another day, say sources close to him. A meeting of party legislators is set to take place at 5 pm.
Amarinder Singh Likely To Quit As Punjab Chief Minister
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has reportedly been asked to quit by the Congress, which has been under pressure from MLAs demanding change ahead of state polls next year. The party last night announced a meeting of its MLAs at 5 PM today.
A House Divided? What Caused The Punjab Churn
The Punjab crisis has escalated dramatically over the Chief Minister's festering feud with in-house rival Navjot Singh Sidhu. In July, despite the Chief Minister's fierce resistance, the party appointed Navjot Sidhu its Punjab chief, but the acrimony stayed barely below the surface. Last month, four ministers and around two dozen party legislators raised fresh complaints against Amarinder Singh, telling the leadership that they had no faith in his ability to honour poll promises
The Constitutional Questions
Amarinder Singh has so far refused to resign, which raises the possibility of a split in the Congress and a floor test. If the flux continues, the Governor can cite political instability and farm protests and recommend President's Rule in Punjab.
What Forced Congress To Call Urgent Meeting Of Its MLAs
Sources say over 50 of 80 Punjab Congress MLAs wrote to Sonia Gandhi demanding that Amarinder Singh be replaced as Chief Minister, forcing the party to call the emergency meeting of MLAs.
Amarinder Singh Asked To Quit, Key Punjab Congress Meet Today: 10 PointsPunjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has reportedly been asked to quit by the Congress, which has been under pressure from MLAs demanding change ahead of state polls next year. The party last night announced a meeting of its MLAs at 5 PM today.
Read here Congress Called A Meeting Of Punjab Legislators In A Late Night Tweet
The Congress, which had earlier announced that it will fight the polls under Amarinder Singh's leadership, called a legislature party meeting in a tweet late on Friday night.
Amarinder Singh Rallies Loyalists Ahead Of Big Meet Of Legislators
Facing exit, the "Captain" has called his own meeting of MLAs to rally loyalists. There have been several such scares for Amarinder Singh over the past few months, with a section of MLAs revolting against him and keeping up pressure on the party. Today's unscheduled meeting reportedly stunned the leader, who last week cooked a spectacular feast for the Olympics medal winners.
Congress Observers For Punjab Arrive In Chandigarh For Key Meet
Harish Chaudhary, Ajay Maken arrived in Chandigarh this afternoon ahead of a big meet of legislators later this evening amid questions over Amarinder Singh's leadership.
Punjab Political Crisis: Amarinder Singh Ready To Put Up A Fight
Congress Had Announced Amarinder Singh Will Lead It In Polls
Last month, the Congress has underscored that Amarinder Singh will lead the party in the coming state elections. "We will contest 2022 Punjab elections under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh," said Mr Rawat, who is the party in-charge in the state. With the MLAs called for an urgent meeting, after a fresh bout of rebellion against the Chief Minister, the pace of developments in the party would worry Amarinder Singh.
Sources say names of three leaders - Sunil Jakhar, former Punjab Congress chief Pratap Singh Bajwa and Beant Singh's grandson and MP Ravneet Singh Bittu - are doing rounds amid buzz on leadership change
Punjab Stares At Political Crisis Yet Again
Punjab Crisis: Here Are The Possible Scenarios Emerging Scenario 1: Amarinder Singh resigns, Congress elects new leader, leader sworn in by Governor - no crisis for Congress
Scenario 2: Amarinder refuses to resign, split in Congress: governor can call for floor test
Scenario 3: Floor test doesn't throw up majority: Governor can dissolve house, and ask Amarinder Singh to be caretaker Chief Minister till polls in March
Scenario 4: Governor can cite political instability, farm protests, recommend President's Rule in Punjab
Rahul Gandhi's Solution To "Punjabi Gordian Knot...": Congress Leader
Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar has commended his colleague Rahul Gandhi for making a decisive move to restore order in the state unit, amid pressure from Congress MLAs to replace Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
"Kudos to Rahul Gandhi for adopting Alexandrian solution to this Punjabi version of Gordian knot. Surprisingly, this bold leadership decision to resolve Punjab Congress imbroglio has not only enthralled congress workers but has sent shudders down the spines of Akalis," Mr Jakhar tweeted,
"Can't Continue With Such Humiliation," Captain Tells Sonia Gandhi: Sources
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, reportedly put on notice by the Congress ahead of an unprecedented meeting of MLAs called this evening, has told Sonia Gandhi he "can't continue in the party with this kind of humiliation", sources say.
Punjab Headed For Leadership Change? Key MLA Meet Today Amid Power Tussle
There is fresh sparking in the Punjab unit of the Congress. Citing "representation from a large number of MLAs", the Congress, in a late night tweet, has called for a key meeting of its Punjab legislators today. The meeting could spell trouble for Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who has been the target of rebel leaders seeking his ouster.