Out in the cold, Sidhu says have quit Punjab ministry

Both Singh and Sidhu have been at loggerheads ever since the Cabinet reshuffle on June 6. Sidhu was divested of the local government and tourism and cultural affairs departments over “non-performance.”

Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns from Punjab Cabinet

Both the CM and Navjot Singh Sidhu also got involved in a war of words over the latter’s visit to Pakistan.

Amid his ongoing feud with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu announced his resignation from the state Cabinet on Sunday.

After remaining incommunicado and in a self-imposed political exile for over a month, ever since Amarinder stripped him of his Local Bodies and Tourism and Culture portfolios, Sidhu Sunday tweeted his resignation letter, dated June 10 and addressed to “the AICC president”. Sidhu had met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that day.

Assigned Power and New & Renewable Energy portfolio in a reshuffle, Sidhu had not assumed charge. His resignation announcement came after a wait of over a month for the Congress high command to intervene. However, it is unclear where the resignation stands as, under the rules, a minister has to mark the same to the CM.

Explained

Move ends speculation, shows Captain is in command

As the Chief Minister’s Office made it clear Sunday that Amarinder had not received any communication from Sidhu regarding this, he issued a second tweet that he would do so soon.

Sources close to Sidhu said he was in the process of vacating his official residence and that he would now be based in Patiala, Amarinder’s hometown. Though Sidhu also belongs to Patiala, he had shifted base to Amritsar after being elected as Amritsar MP on a BJP ticket.

Sidhu had protested against the withdrawal of the Local Bodies and Tourism and Culture Departments from him as Amarinder had hinted that non-performance was the reason behind the move. The CM had stated that the Congress could not do well in cities in Punjab in the Lok Sabha elections as the minister in-charge had failed to perform in urban local bodies. Sidhu had in turn released his report card and argued that the Congress did well in all the major cities. After that, he had gone incommunicado and met Rahul in Delhi.

The animosity between Amarinder and Sidhu goes back to before he joined the Congress, with the CM making clear his opposition to the former cricketer being inducted. While Amarinder continued to sideline Sidhu in the state government, the latter’s star remained ascendant due to his proximity to the high command.

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Amarinder had also taken on Sidhu publicly for participating in the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, and greeting Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa with a warm hug there. Sidhu, in turn, had stolen a march by coming back with an assurance from Pakistan on opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.

The announcement of his resignation ironically came on the day India and Pakistan announced a breakthrough on the corridor.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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