Navjot Kaur Sidhu calls Rahul Gandhi 'pappu' after leaving Congress, fuels speculation of Sidhu's BJP return

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): The tug-of-war and war of words that had been going on in Punjab politics for the past two months has ended with a big bang. Taking a tough stand, the Congress high command has expelled former MLA Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu from the party. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel made the formal announcement on Friday. Although Dr. Sidhu had already submitted her resignation on January 31st, by expelling her, the party has sent a clear message that the indiscipline and rebellious attitude of the Sidhu family will no longer be tolerated.

Personal attacks on Rahul Gandhi, tensions reach their peak

Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu's attitude has become even more bitter after being expelled from the party. Following her expulsion, she launched a scathing attack on the Congress leadership, crossing all limits of decorum. In a personal attack on the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, she used the highly derogatory term "Pappu" for him. By using this term, commonly used derisively by the opposition camp, Navjot Kaur has made it clear that her relationship with the Gandhi family and the Congress is now completely broken.

To become CM, one has to give a suitcase worth Rs 500 crore

The foundation of this controversy was laid last December, when Navjot Kaur leveled serious allegations of corruption against the Congress high command. She claimed that the chief ministerial face in the Congress party is determined by whoever presents a suitcase containing ₹500 crore. She stated unequivocally that her husband, Navjot Singh Sidhu, would return to active politics only if he was declared the CM face. She stated that the party is so deeply factionalized that they will not allow Sidhu to advance. There are already five contenders aspiring to become chief minister and are intent on defeating the Congress party.

Will there be a 'homecoming' now? Sidhu's silence casts a shadow of suspense

Following Dr. Sidhu's expulsion, the biggest question in political circles is what Navjot Singh Sidhu's next move will be. Technically, Sidhu remains a member of the Congress party, but his wife's statements are being seen as a glimpse into his political future. Over the past few weeks, Navjot Kaur has accused Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring of corruption while also lavishly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. These signs have fueled speculation that the Sidhu family may return home to their former party, the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He has a long history of rebellion and even clashed with the Captain

The Sidhu family has a political history of rebellion and confrontation against their own governments. In 2012, while a BJP MLA, Dr. Kaur accused her own government of discrimination. Arun Jaitley's ticket in 2014 further deepened her distance from the BJP. After joining the Congress in 2017, Navjot Singh Sidhu had a bitter rivalry with then-Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. He attacked his own government on the issue of sacrilege, leading to the Captain's resignation. Currently, Navjot Singh Sidhu has maintained silence, but after this direct attack on Rahul Gandhi, all avenues for his return to the Congress party are considered closed.