Chandigarh: The writings were on the wall and now veteran Congress leader and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has resigned ‘buckling under pressure from his rebel MLAs and High Command’ ahead of the CLP meeting scheduled at 5 pm here today. As per Congress sources, Ambika Soni, Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, Partap Bajwa and former Congress chief Sunil Jakhar are in contention to replace Singh submitted his resignation to the state Governor today. His son Raninder Singh announced the news on Twitter.
My father submitting his resignation to HE the Governor Sahib of Punjab. pic.twitter.com/RyINJSUeh5
— Raninder Singh (@RaninderSingh) September 18, 2021
“I feel humiliated by the way talks transpired. I spoke with the Congress president this morning, told them that I will be resigning today… This is the third time in recent months in meeting MLAs… which is why I decided to quit,” he said as quoted by ANI after putting in his papers.
And he added, “I am in the Congress party, will consult with my supporters and decide the future course of action.”
On his successor, Singh said, “Whoever they (party high command) have faith in, can make them (Punjab CM).”
This would sound a huge setback to the party’s prospects in the state polls slated next year as he still is the tallest Congress leader in the state. However inside sources inform that this was on the anvil. “Singh has lost touch with the people. His proximity with the Badals has also proved costly. The bureaucracy at the CM’s behest has run riot and the old-fashioned style of functioning of the CM have not gone down well with the High Command especially Rahul Gandhi who was hell bent on the ouster of the Patiala Maharaj,” an insider told The Lateralz.
Singh’s inability to develop a smooth working relationship with State Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu also went against him.
