Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh Resigns, Says Will Decide Future Course Of Action After Consulting Supporters

Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday (18 September) resigned as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Singh reached the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh at around 4.30 pm and submitted his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Speaking to mediapersons, Singh said that he spoke to interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the morning and told her that he is being humiliated and he will resign from the post.

The ex-Punjab CM added that he would decide the future course of action after consulting with his supporters.

Earlier in the day, the party's high command is said to have conveyed to the Chief Minister to resign to enable the election of a new incumbent.

However, the Chief Minister 'threatened' to quit the party for being humiliated.

According to some senior party leaders, the high command has categorically asked Amarinder Singh to step down.

The minute-by-minute changing political development began close to midnight on Friday (17 September) when Congress' Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat tweeted about the decision to hold an urgent CLP meeting on Saturday.

About 10 minutes later, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu directed all the MLAs to be present at the CLP meeting.

The announcement by Rawat is being seen as an indication from the high command to appoint a new incumbent under whose helm the party will go to the Assembly polls, slated in March 2022.

Responding to the political developments, former state Congress President Sunil Jakhar tweeted: "Kudos to Sh Rahul Gandhi for adopting Alexandrian solution to this Punjabi version of Gordian knot.

"Surprisingly, this bold leadership decision to resolve Punjab Congress imbroglio has not only enthralled Congress workers but has sent shudders down the spines of Akalis."

The decision to call the CLP comes in the wake of the fresh letter signed by a majority of legislators, who expressed their dissatisfaction with Amarinder Singh and demanded his removal from the Chief Minister's post.

Meanwhile, AICC deputed party general secretary Ajay Maken and Harish Chowdhry reached Chandigarh as central observers for the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting slated later on Saturday. Harish Rawat is also reaching.

(With inputs from IANS)