Navjot Singh Sidhu appointed PPCC chief, gets 4 working presidents

CHANDIGARH: AICC interim president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday night finally cleared the appointment of former cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu as the Punjab Congress president in a bid to put a lid on the squabbling between chief minister Amarinder Singh and the cricketer-turned politician.
Sonia also appointed four Punjab leaders — Tanda Urmur MLA Sangat Singh Gilzian, Jandiala Guru MLA Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra and Pawan Goel — as working presidents of the party in the state.


The four appointments were made to maintain social balance as various communities and caste groups have been seeking more representation in the party’s Punjab unit. Gilzian is an OBC, Danny is a Dalit, Nagra Jat Sikh and Goel a Hindu. None of the working presidents belong to the CM’s camp.

The press statement issued by party general secretary K C Venugopal also appreciated the contribution of outgoing PCC president Sunil Jakhar. Nagra has been relieved from his present responsibility of Congress in-charge of Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.
As Sidhu was appointed the Punjab party president with immediate effect, Jakhar cancelled the meeting of party MLAs and district presidents he had convened on Monday afternoon.
Sidhu’s elevation comes just a day after Amarinder reiterated he would accept Sonia Gandhi’s decision on the new Punjab Congress chief.