Ludhiana: Posters calling for Navjot Singh Sidhu’s resignation have now appeared in Ludhiana, Punjab after similar posters appeared in Mohali asking for the cricketer-turned-politician to tender his resignation.
Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the state minister had said he would quit politics if Congress president Rahul Gandhi loses from Amethi. Results were out on May 23 and Rahul Gandhi lost the election by 55,120 votes to BJP’s Smriti Irani.
Posters in Gurumukhi and English appeared in Pakhowal road in Ludhiana asking Sidhu to quit politics. “When are you quitting politics??? Time to keep your words we are waiting for your resignation,” the posters read.
The posters that appeared in Mohali and Ludhiana are identical indicating that one person or a group is behind them.
Earlier, once the results were declared Twitter users shared screenshots and Sidhu’s quote asking him to keep his promise and resign.
Soon, “#SiddhuQuitPolitics” started trending on Twitter. One facebook user wrote: “Sherry u r sardar. Sardar known for his guts. Stand on ur publicity stand. By the way u have part time job in Bombay. ‘O..Chak de phatte nap de killi, subha jallandhar shaam nu dilli’ Thoko talli.”
Another guy posted a news report carrying Sidhu’s pledge and wrote: “Dear @sherryontopp please mark your word, please Resign #SiddhuQuitPolitics we all are waiting eagerly.”
The pressure mounted further after Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar tendered his resignation to the party high command owning moral responsibility for poor performance in the state.
Probing reasons for Rahul Gandhi’s loss from his home turf, a two-member Congress Committee was told that non-cooperation of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party units led to Congress president’s defeat.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s representatives in Rae Bareli and party secretaries Zubair Khan and KL Sharma were informed that the SP and BSP units in Amethi did not cooperate with Congress due to which a large number of votes were transferred to the BJP.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh changed Sidhu’s portfolio but the latter failed to resume his new charge.
Sidhu got Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources and the Local Government and Tourism and Cultural Affairs portfolio which was earlier with him was taken over by the Chief Minister.
Other party leaders and ministers from Punjab cabinet including Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot blamed the cricketer-turned-politician for party’s poor performance in the state saying his actions during the Lok Sabha elections not only harmed the Chief Minister but also party president Rahul Gandhi.
