New Delhi: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has been appointed as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president. "Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect," said KC Venugopal, General Secretary of AICC in an official statement.
Congress has also appointed Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goel and Kuljit Singh Nagra as working presidents of PPCC. "Party appreciates the contributions of outgoing president, Sunil Jakhar," the statement further read. Congress has relieved Kuljit Singh from the responsibility as AICC incharge of Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.
The decision came after rounds of meetings between Congress high command with Amarinder Singh and Sindhu. Amarinder Singh on Friday wrote to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi expressing apprehensions about the possible appointment of Sidhu as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, sources had said. Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Harish Rawat met Amarinder Singh in Mohali on July 17. Later he said that Amarinder Singh has assured him that he will honour any decision taken by the party high command. However, Rawat reiterated that Amarinder Singh will remain the chief ministerial face of the party for the upcoming Assembly elections since his governance has earned praise from the people of the state and also because "Punjabis don't want to experiment with their political leadership."
Rawat had met Sonia Gandhi on Friday and submitted his report regarding proposed changes in the Punjab Congress. Sidhu was also present during the meeting. Amarinder Singh had also met Sonia Gandhi last week.
(with agency inputs)
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