Will Punjab CM Be Made To Resign? Amarinder Singh Conveys Strong Displeasure To Sonia Gandhi: Sources

Congress party sources confirmed that Capt Amrinder called up Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and conveyed his strong displeasure if he is removed in such a manner.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing tussle in the Punjab Congress unit, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has called a meeting of the state's Congress Legislative Party on Saturday, which has further led to speculation over Chief Minister Amarinder Singh being asked to resign from the top post.

AICC general secretary and in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Rawat had announced the meeting on Friday night.

In a tweet, Congress leader Harish Rawat wrote: “The AICC has received a representation from a large number of MLAs from the Congress party, requesting to immediately convene a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) of Punjab. Accordingly, a meeting of the CLP has been convened at 5 PM on September 18 at Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee office”.

“AICC directs the PPCC to facilitate this meeting. All congress MLAs of Punjab are requested to kindly attend this meeting,” Rawat added in a tweet.

Congress Punjab unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu also put out a tweet about the legislative party meeting.

Ahead of the meeting, rumours of Congress seeking CM Amarinder Singh’s resignation are rife.

Party sources confirmed that Capt Amrinder called up Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and conveyed his strong displeasure if he is removed this way. He said it will be a big insult to him if he is removed in such a manner. About 40 MLAs are against him, sources told ABP News.

The Chief Minister or his close aides are yet to comment on the issue.

When asked about reports that Capt Amarinder Singh has been asked to step down as Chief Minister and names of Ambika Soni, Sunil Jakhar, and others are coming up as those being considered to replace him, Punjab Congress general secretary Pargat Singh said: “Meeting (CLP meet) has been called. Things will be discussed in the meeting”, news agency ANI reported.

All eyes are on the meeting scheduled to happen at 5 pm to know whether the Punjab Congress crisis will finally settle for good or will the situation take another unexpected turn with CM Amarinder Singh’s resignation.

The development comes as several legislators and ministers close to Sidhu sought a meeting of the legislature party.

The MLAs demanded that two neutral observers be sent from Delhi so that they can narrate their grievances. The prime movers this time are Pargat Singh and Tript Singh Bajwa, both are close to party state president Sidhu, IANS reported.

Last month, four ministers and around two dozen party legislators raised a banner of revolt against Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, saying that they had no faith in his ability to honour unfulfilled promises.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that CM Amarinder Singh has called a meeting of MLAs at his official residence in Chandigarh at 2 pm. If the MLAs do not attend the meeting, the Chief Minister may not take part in the CLP meeting later.

(With Inputs From Ashish Singh & Jagwinder Patial)