Navjot Singh Sidhu, seen as the big contender for the top post in Punjab since he joined the Congress, refuted the perception a day after Rahul Gandhi named Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the party's candidate for the job. "I did not join Congress for a post, I gave up the post," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
Asked if he was taken aback when Rahul Gandhi made the announcement on Sunday, he said, "Why would I? Do you need a post to change people's lives? Did Mahatma Gandhi have a post? Did Vinoba Bhave have a post? All those who fought for Narmada, did they have a post?"
"There is no permanent name and fame... After a stage you realise that to help His creation is the greatest work," he said.
At a virtual rally in Ludhiana on Sunday after weeks of infighting between the party's two top leaders -- the Chief Minster and state party chief Mr Sidhu -- Mr Gandhi had announced the name of Mr Channi as "people's pick".
"I have not decided about it. I asked this to Punjab's people, youth, members of working committee... I may have an opinion but your opinion is more important than mine... Punjabis told us that we need a person who can understand the poor," he had said.
Before his announcement, Mr Sidhu had declared that he would abide by Mr Gandhi's decision, during which he also mentioned that he does not wish to be a "showpiece".
Later, Mr Channi -- older to Mr Sidhu by a few months -- was seen touching his feet.
"I gave a word to Priyanka ji... that I will stand by them. I believe in that ideology. My father accepted Nehru ji's ideology. There was no intrusion in the party. But Rahul ji got me," Mr Sidhu told NDTV today.
