New Delhi: After the shocking exit of Capt Amarinder Singh as the Punjab Chief Minister months ahead of the crucial assembly elections, the Congress committee will hold a meeting to decide on the new Chief Minister of Punjab.
According to ABP sources, the meeting which was scheduled to be held at 11 am in Chandigarh on Sunday has been postponed as the party members have not been able to make a unanimous decision on Amarinder Singh's successor.
Congress MLAs in Punjab reiterated that the decision over the prospective candidate for the post of Punjab Chief Minister lies in the hands of the party's high command.
Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid said: "We are awaiting Sonia Gandhi's orders. Immediately after, a decision will be taken in the CLP (Congress Legislative Party) meeting."
"Resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh is not a small issue. There is a background and issues behind the resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh. There was dissatisfaction among MLAs irrespective of the work done by Amarinder Singh's government," he said.
Reacting to the political developments in Punjab, Congress MLA Pargat Singh said: "It all depends on the Congress high command. This is the prerogative of the high command. CLP meeting was held yesterday and a mandate has been given."
However, both the MLAs refused to comment on the prospective candidate for the post of Chief Minister.
Capt Amarinder Singh's resignation is a huge setback to Congress considering the upcoming polls and the constant infighting among the leaders for choosing a leader. While many names are doing rounds for the next Punjab CM face, sources have revealed that Congress leader Sunil Jakhar is the frontrunner to fill in Captain's large shoes.
Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh has expressed his displeasure if the party considers PCC Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu to be his successor. He termed Sidhu an “incompetent man” and a “threat to national security”.
“Navjot Singh Sidhu is an incompetent man, he is going to be a disaster. I will oppose his name for the next CM face. He has a connection with Pakistan. It will be a threat to national security,” Amarinder Singh told news agency ANI.
'Humiliated': Capt Amarinder Singh after resigning from Punjab CM post
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh resigned from the top post on Saturday. Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh.
Soon after submitting his resignation, Singh spoke to media outside Raj Bhavan where he said that he had spoken to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi earlier in the day and told her about his decision to resign as Punjab CM.
"This has happened for the third time in two months. They called MLAs to Delhi twice and now this CLP meet. I feel humiliated and thus I have decided to leave the CM post. They (party high-command) can appoint anyone they have confidence in," Singh said while speaking to reporters.
When asked about what lies next for Singh, he said he will meet other leaders and will then decided the future course of action.
Singh's resignation reportedly came hours after the Congress high command categorically asked him to step down as chief minister to enable the election of a new incumbent.