Chandigarh (Punjab): Poll strategist Prashant Kishor had resigned from the post of Principal Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh amid speculation that he will join the Congress. In this regard, advocate of Punjab High Court, Baltej Singh Sidhu said that a resignation simply won't do and that Prashant Kishor needs to pay back the salary he had received till date. The decision by Kishor assumes significance given the fact that the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls in the state are just a few months away. It is known that on March 1, Prashant Kishor was appointed the Principal Advisor to Amarinder Singh and was also given the status of a cabinet minister.
Right from the start, the polls strategist's appointment was targeted by Punjab's opposition parties, and even in Supreme Court a petition was filed against the appointment of Prashant Kishor, to which the Punjab government has to give a reply on August 20th. However, in this case, senior advocate of Punjab High Court, Baltej Singh Sidhu said that he is not satisfied with Kishor's resignation and that the 5 months salary and the money spent on government facilities provided to the latter need to be recovered. An appeal in this regard will be made during the hearing in the Supreme Court, the HC lawyer said.
Read: Prashant Kishor resigns as Principal Advisor to Punjab CM
The Advocate further said, "It is surprising that the Punjab government had appointed election advisors not for the Congress party but for the government and he (Prashant Kishor) was given all the facilities which a cabinet minister enjoys. He was given access to IAS officer, personal assistant, private secretary, computer operator, PN (Licensed Practical Nurse), government house as well as government vehicles and other government facilities which a cabinet rank minister is provided.
In this case, the petitioner Labh Singh said that he does not belong to any political party, but the money that could have been used for Punjab's welfare and for the welfare of many others in the state, was spent on Prashant Kishor by the government. Singh added that there is accountability and therefore, even if the Supreme Court dismisses the petition, then for the coming assembly elections, he will go among the people and make them aware about how the Punjab government has wasted public money.
Read: Congress brainstorming over Prashant Kishor's plan for its revival
None expected that Prashant Kishor, who is touted to have the ability to influence a party's win in elections, would resign as principal advisor to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, a few months prior to the assembly elections. In a surprising move, the poll strategist in a letter to the Punjab CM, on Thursday, resigned from the post citing "temporary break from active role in public life."
"As you are aware, in view of my decision to take a temporary break from the active role in public life. I have not been able to take over the responsibilities as your principal advisor," he stated in his letter. Kishor further added, "Since I am yet to decide on my future course of action, I write to request you to kindly relieve me from this responsibility. I take this opportunity to thank you for considering me for this position."
