Punjab Congress Crisis: Navjot Singh Sidhu met with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
In an evening meeting yesterday between Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu, formation of a coordination committee to monitor the progress of Congress's 2017 Punjab poll promises was decided. Navjot Singh Sidhu agreed to stay on as the party's state unit chief.
Mr Sidhu has resigned on Monday owing to disagreement with the Chief Minister's choice for his cabinet, state police chief and the Advocate General.
Mr Channi reached out to Mr Sidhu yesterday.
In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Amarinder Singh said that he will not join the BJP but will definitely quitting the Congress, confirming what has been furiously speculated since he was forced to quit as Punjab Chief Minister earlier this month.
"So far I am in the Congress but I will not remain in the Congress. I have already made my position very clear. I will not be treated in this manner," Amarinder Singh said. Soon after the reveal, he dropped "Congress" from his Twitter bio. A formal resignation would come at an "appropriate time", he said.
Here are the updates on Punjab Congress Crisis:
"Shocked At Blatant Lies": Captain vs Congress
Taking strong exception to Congress's Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat's remarks that Captain Amarinder Singh "seems to be under some kind of pressure", the former Chief Minister replied Mr Rawat's claims and allegations were "outrageous". In a statement, Mr Amarinder, who was replaced as Chief Minister by Charanjit Singh Channi, said Mr Rawat's remarks were "were clearly prompted by the pathetic situation the party now found itself in the state after being on a winning spree for four-and-a-half years."
"We spoke just a day before the CLP (Congress Legislature Party) meeting was called. Mr Rawat told me then there was nothing in the works and even claimed he had not seen any letter sent by 43 MLAs. I am shocked at the blatant way in which he is now lying about this," the former Chief Minister said, referring to a meeting of Congress MLAs before he was asked to resign.
Amarinder Singh Reacts To Harish Rawat's Claim
Former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday rejected the Congress Punjab in-charge's outrageous claims and allegations, which he said were clearly prompted by the pathetic situation the party now found itself in the state after being on a winning spree for four and a half years.
"Three weeks before stepping down as CM, I had offered my resignation to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi but she had asked me to continue," said Captain Amarinder, adding that the humiliating manner in which he was pushed into resigning just hours before the CLP meeting, that was clearly convened to oust him, was a matter of public record.
Congress Didn't Insult Amarinder Singh, Says Party Leader Harish RawatFormer Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's outburst that he was not treated well by the party is not true, the Congress said. "It is being said that he was humiliated. I would like to clarify that the party has always given him respect and treated him with high regard," Congress's Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat said.Punjab Chief Minister To Meet PM Modi In Delhi Today Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today and is expected to urge him to withdraw the centre's letter on postponing the paddy procurement in the state from October 1.
This will be Mr Channi's first meeting with PM Modi after the senior Congress leader took oath as Punjab chief minister recently.
Mr Channi is also likely to meet senior Congress leaders during his visit to the national capital amid the ongoing tumult in the party's Punjab unit, sources said.
What Amarinder Singh Said To NDTV On The Congress Party
Amarinder Singh, one of the tallest leaders in Punjab, on Thursday declared he will quit the Congress but he won't join the BJP. The remark came a day after his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, which his aide said was about farmer issues. He had earlier took a jibe at the Congress over Mr Sidhu's shock move with his "I told you so" tweet.
Navjot Sidhu To Stay, 'Agreement' With Chief Minister On Sticking Points Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on board after an agreement was reached with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi on Thursday over contentious appointments that had plunged the Congress into fresh turmoil ahead of polls next year. Read here