Sidhu bats for mission 'Jittega Punjab', empowering people

After months of bickering and political infight, the Congress central leadership on Sunday evening announced Sidhu as the chief of its party in Punjab, overriding the objections raised by CM and his arch rival Captain Amarinder Singh. On Monday, Sidhu tweeted a picture of his father with Jawaharalal Nehru, highlighting his father's 'patriotic work' to kickstart his new assignment.

Hyderabad: For the first time after being elevated to the top post in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday took to Twitter to thank the Congress high command and assured the people that he will "give power back" to them."

"I am grateful to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for bestowing their faith in me & giving me this pivotal responsibility: Newly appointed Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu (sic)," his tweet read.

"Will work along every member of Congress family in Punjab to fulfil mission of 'Jittega Punjab' as humble party worker, to give power of people back to people through Punjab Model & the High Command’s 18 point agenda. My journey has just begun: Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu (sic)," read his another tweet.

After months of bickering and political infight, the Congress central leadership on Sunday evening announced Sidhu as the chief its party in Punjab, which will face Assembly polls next year. Though Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Sidhu are at loggerheads with each other, the former had a couple of days ago said he would abide by the decision taken by the Gandhi clan. Amarinder, however, made last-ditch efforts against elevating Sidhu to the top post by sending representations to the party high command and holding parleys with top leaders. In a not-so surprise move, the party's top brass decided otherwise.

While it is touted that the PCC chief will invariably be the chief ministerial candidate during the Assembly elections next year, Harish Singh Rawat, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee and the party’s in-charge for Punjab, clarified that Capt Amarinder will remain the chief ministerial face, "since his governance has garnered praise from the people" and because "Punjabis don't wish to experiment with their political leadership."

On Monday, Sidhu also tweeted a picture of his father with Jawaharalal Nehru, highlighting his father's 'patriotic work'.