We Can Fix This, Says Punjab Chief Minister Channi To Navjot Sidhu

Chandigarh/New Delhi: A day after Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation as Punjab Congress chief, the party tried to bring him around while keeping its options open. Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said he had spoken to him on the phone and urged: "Let's talk".

Channi, who recently replaced  Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister, said he was willing to discuss Navjot Sidhu's concerns.

"I told Sidhu that the party believes in consultations, please come and we can fix this. If anyone has any objections to any appointment, then I am not rigid on that. There is no ego tussle," Mr Channi told reporters.

Sidhu was upset about the cabinet changes made by  Channi, who became Punjab's first Dalit Sikh Chief Minister 10 days ago. Sources said  Sidhu had hoped to have a say in the decisions but found Mr Channi less pliable than he thought. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi supported  Channi's choices.

Sidhu was also angry about key posts given to officials linked to the "sacrilege" case. Soon after Mr Sidhu's resignation, a state minister and three office bearers also quit in solidarity with him.

In a video on Twitter this morning, Sidhu said: "My fight is issue-based and I have stood by it for a long time. I cannot compromise with my ethics, my moral authority. What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I cannot misguide the high command nor can I let them be misguided."

Sources say the Gandhis will only go so far to mollify Sidhu, whom they backed against stalwart Amarinder Singh. The Congress has reportedly launched "Plan B" to look for a new Punjab chief. The party is said to be considering two-time MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra or party MP Ravneet Singh Bittu for the role, with Navjot Sidhu refusing to review his decision.

In this mess, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who cited his repeated "humiliation" while quitting as Punjab Chief Minister on September 18, is meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah. So far, the Captain has denied that his visit is anything but "personal".

Amarinder Singh yesterday flung an "I-told-you-so" at the Gandhis as he labelled Mr Sidhu as "unstable and dangerous for Punjab".

Sidhu's move just two months after he took over as Punjab Congress chief has stunned the Gandhis, who had taken a big risk while placing the party's Punjab unit in his hands and forcing Amarinder Singh to resign four months before the election. 

When the Amarinder Singh-Navjot Sidhu feud escalated about a year ago, the Congress was still in a position of strength in Punjab. Today, the party has descended into chaos at a time its rival Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is aggressively campaigning for the Punjab polls.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, visiting Punjab, taunted the ruling Congress over its unending turmoil and listed five things he expected from the Charanjit Channi government, including action against corruption.