Suspense over; Sidhu releases his ‘backdated’ resignation

Tuesday, 16/07/2019

https://www.brightpunjabexpress.com/index.php/2019/07/14/suspense-over-sidhu-releases-his-backdated-resignation/

CHANDIGARH, July 14: The suspense is finally over. Estranged minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has released his “backdated” resignation in the public domain. In a tweet at dot 12 o’clock on Sunday, Sidhu uploaded the June 10, copy of the handwritten resignation letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi which read, “Respected Sir, I hereby resign as Minister from the Punjab Cabinet”.

Given the state of affairs at the Congress headquarters, as Rahul Gandhi no longer considers himself to be the president while the party thinks otherwise, it is unlikely that any decision will be taken on his resignation or he may be asked to reconsider it.

Sidhu has not specified any reason in the “one line” resignation as he has left it open to interpretation. In all probability he will like it to be interpreted as having stood by Rahul Gandhi as quite a few party leaders have resigned in his support.

Although Sidhu clearly had different reasons for resigning as he had been divested of the Local Bodies portfolio, having left the reason for resignation vague will definitely provide him the elbowroom to play it the way it suits him.

Ideally as a minister he should have submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister, who is his appointing authority. But normally under such circumstances the ministers usually send their resignations to the “high command”, may be in anticipation of it being rejected. But in Sidhu’s case, and unfortunately for him, there is neither a president in place nor a high command.

Sidhu also announced on twitter that he will be submitting his resignation to the Chief Minister also. But he did not specify the date as when he will do it. Whether he does it or not, is quite immaterial at this stage, as his resignation is considered to be as good as having been accepted. He has not been attending his office for a long time now.

Sidhu had put all his eggs in a single basket to the extent he had started taking not so secret confrontation with the Chief Minister bordering defiance. Apparently he had not expected that “his captain” Rahul Gandhi will be relinquishing the captaincy so soon, leaving him at his own fate. Sidhu was virtually left with no option but to resign from the cabinet.

Much will depend on the turn of events in the Congress high command in Delhi. With Rahul insisting on his resignation, in all likelihood there is going to be a new Congress president. If by any chance it will be Priyanka Gandhi, Sidhu may get some redemption or some reprieve at least. IN case of someone else becoming the president, it will be unlikely that he will take cudgels with Capt Amarinder Singh on behalf of Sidhu.

Sidhu’s stock vis-à-vis the party and the government may have gone low right now, but he will need to be carefully watched as he can turn out to be the voice of dissent and defiance against the government. Bruised and aggrieved, with nothing to lose anymore, Sidhu may not be very easy to tackle for the government for long.