Punjab polls: ‘Those at the top want a weak CM,’ says Navjot Singh Sidhu

“The top wants a weak CM. They want a CM who will sing their tunes. Naach meri bulbul tujhe paisa milage (Dance, my bulbul, you will get money),” Sidhu said as his supporters raised slogans, “Hamara CM kaisa ho, Navjot Sidhu jaisa ho.”

Sidhu’s media adviser Surinder Dalla, however, said his statement was being unnecessarily twisted and that the Congress leader was, in fact, referring to the Centre when he said that “they” wanted a weak CM in Punjab.

Jagtar Singh Sidhu, another media adviser of the Congress leader, said it was unfortunate that PPCC chief’s statement was twisted, “He has said this umpteen times that the Centre wants a weak CM in Punjab. He says this in the context of former CM Amarinder Singh, who he always says was a puppet in the hands of the BJP-led Centre. His statements have been twisted…”

Meanwhile, on a day AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary announced that party leader Rahul Gandhi will announce CM candidate for Punjab on Sunday during a virtual rally in Ludhiana and defended Channi over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) action on his nephew, Sidhu said people wanted an “honest” face this time, otherwise they could “vote for change.”

Channi’s nephew Bhupinder Singh alias Honey has been arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in a case linked to illegal sand mining.

As the Congress is curiously watching Sidhu, who the party leaders fear may react sharply if not named the CM candidate, the PPCC president spoke to NDTV TV channel and said people were looking for a change this time unless an honest face was given to them. “It is certain this time that if you do not give an honest man, then people have an option. People are saying they have seen both (Congress and SAD) and they will see an alternative this time. It is the choice and not the chance that determines your future. A mafia man cannot implement this agenda. Mafia will have to eliminated. If the person is a mafia himself, and is the protector-in-chief, how would be implement this agenda? It is not about my acceptance. It is about if people will accept or not. The vote will go for the person. Will they be able to make 60 MLAs? How will anyone become a CM if 60 MLAs are not elected? Question is whom the people of Punjab want? People are looking for a change this time,” he said.

Talking about himself, Sidhu said, “Your work, your character, your moral authority, your 17-year-old history, people will tell which role they see Sidhu in. When he was fighting for sand policy, cable policy where these people like Arvind Kejriwal were? Unless you go with a research driven roadmap, who would pull the state out of this mess? That is why the face has become a big issue in the state because the biggest question is as to who will implement the agenda, the policy. If someone is a part of mafia, if someone is a thief, if somebody is putting up distillers, getting share from Cable mafia, how would he implement it? I will give an example. When match fixing controversy took place South African cricket, then Hansie Cronje admitted that match fixing takes place. Eight players were replaced. And a 19-year-old boy was made the Captain. He became world champion in a year. You will have to take strong decisions. You get out on the roads and ask people as to who they want. People push politicians out after five years. Here, I am in politics for 17 years. Tell me how many celebrities win six elections? We have told Rahul ji on our own that he should announce the CM candidate.”

On the other hand Chaudhary and Channi appear to be conveying the same message. “I have made a commitment that whosoever the party chooses as CM candidate, we will go with him. Sidhu sahib has also made this statement,” Channi said on Friday.

Chaudhary also repeated the same for the media when he said, “Both Sidhu sahib and Channi sahib asked Rahul ji to announce the CM candidate. Both made this commitment to him and people of Punjab that whoever the party chooses as the CM candidate, the other one will support him.”

Meanwhile, party leader seems to have also discussed the idea of making Channi and Sidhu CMs on rotational basis. “It was suggested to the high command that they should try to announce CM face on rotational basis. We suggested that both Channi and Sidhu could be made CM face for 2.5 years each. But this has not found favour with the high command yet as a few seniors are averse to it.” a leader said.

Ahead of announcement of its CM candidate, the Congress directed all its candidates to prepare election material carrying “Sadda Channi” printed on jackets, hoodies and other material. The poll material will be distributed among the polling agents and supporters of the candidates.

In a twist, former AAP MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, who on Thursday announced to campaign for Sidhu in his Amritsar (East) constituency, was seen with Channi Friday. Dr Gandhi told the media that he would be campaigning for Channi too as he was supporting Congress, which was the only outfit that could take on BJP.