The convoluted plot so far…

Here’s what you missed if you skipped the previous explainer:

• Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu quit the BJP and joined the Congress just before the 2017 state elections.
• Since then, he has been a thorn in the side of then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh—and they eventually began openly feuding against one another.
• The Gandhi family—especially Rahul—had a soft spot for Sidhu—and recently made him head of the state party over Singh’s fierce objections. 
• Singh quit his job last week, saying he couldn’t bear the “humiliation”—and the Gandhis picked Charanjit Singh Channi as his replacement, making him the first Dalit CM of Punjab. 
• There was lots of talk about how Channi was just a temporary pick—to get the Dalit vote in the upcoming state elections in February. And Sidhu was going to be the CM if he led Congress to victory.
• Then Channi picked his first cabinet on Sunday—and all hell broke loose.

First, remind me about Sidhu…

Here’s a brief timeline of his trajectory:

• The 57-year old’s main claim to fame is a cricketing career that began in 1981/82—characterised by an affection for the big shots which earned him the name ‘Sixer Sidhu’. 
• Sidhu then built a highly successful post-retirement career as a cricket commentator and reality TV show host. 
• Somewhere in the midst of this, he was charged with homicide in a road rage case—where he hit an old man during a dispute over parking—but was later acquitted. 
• He then chucked it all to join the BJP in 2004—which isn’t all that surprising since his father too was a politician, albeit a local Congress leader.
• Sidhu won three Lok Sabha elections between 2004 and 2009—but was passed over in favour of Arun Jaitley who scored the Amritsar ticket in 2014. 
• Jaitley lost, Sidhu was shunted up to the Rajya Sabha—and finally quit and later joined Congress. 

A pattern of petulance: Sidhu has a reputation for quitting when he doesn’t get exactly what he wants—and not just in politics. Back in 1996, he quit and flew home in the middle of an England tour—challenging the already shaky captaincy of Mohammed Azharuddin. The reason turned out to be Azhar’s affection for colourful language—which Sidhu took as a personal offence. And all through his career, Sidhu has often been accused of being selfish and entitled—a batsman who would conveniently claim injury at his convenience.

Ok, why did he quit this time?

The resignation: came in true Sidhu style—shared without warning on social media. And the tweeted statement was bizarrely worded:

“The collapse of man’s character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab’s future and the agenda of the welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress.”

The reasons: Sidhu essentially felt he had been sidelined by the newly appointed CM Channi.

One: The timing wasn’t a coincidence, as The Hindu notes:

“Mr. Sidhu made his resignation announcement hours after portfolios were allocated by Mr. Channi. His suggestions on ‘choices of bureaucrats and ministers’ were allegedly overruled by the party leadership.”

Now, Sidhu claims he was unhappy because one of the ministers was once named in a sand mining scam—though later cleared of all charges. And the choice for Advocate General was once a lawyer for former Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini—who has been accused in a police firing case. 

Two: When Channi was appointed, everyone spoke of him as a stopgap measure—warming the seat for Sidhu until the elections were done. But Channi appears to have forged his own relationship with Rahul Gandhi—who he consulted before making his cabinet picks. And the worry is that Channi may become a permanent fixture. One party insider told The Telegraph:

“Rahul Gandhi took a great decision by setting the electoral discourse. The anti-incumbency factor got wiped away and everybody was discussing the Dalit factor. Sidhu was rattled by that because he is driven by his overweening ambition.”

Other pundits put it more bluntly: “Channi as CM reduced Sidhu’s chances of becoming CM as the Congress couldn’t replace a Dalit post the elections if they won.”

So what does any of this mean?

For starters, Sidhu’s walkout is a big slap in the face for the Gandhi siblings—who brought him into the party, and supported him against Amarinder Singh—who was close to Sonia. A party source says the Gandhis are “shocked” by the “extreme step he has taken” because “he did not even leave room for talks.” A senior Congress leader told Gulf News:

“[T]his raises questions on the political wisdom of the two siblings who run the party now. Sidhu has made a public spectacle of them and they have left us looking like losers just before the election. My party is a mess today.”

What’s next: Amarinder Singh is in Delhi—which has triggered great speculation as to whether he is getting ready to join the BJP. But neither side has made any public comment. 

As for Sidhu, anything is possible including joining Congress’ main threat, the Aam Aadmi Party, which he recently praised on Twitter (while praising himself, of course lol!):

“Our opposition AAP has always recognised my vision & work for Punjab. Be it Before 2017- Beadbi, Drugs, Farmers Issues, Corruption & Power Crisis faced by People of Punjab raised by me or today as I present ‘Punjab Model’ It is clear they know - who is really fighting for Punjab.”

And Arvind Kejriwal plans to head to Punjab soon to pick his party’s CM candidate. So the timing may be perfect.

Come back Sidhu? The party has not yet accepted Sidhu’s resignation—but it isn’t clear how far the Gandhis will go to keep him happy. Most insider sources appear to favour cutting him loose—perhaps because Sidhu has opposed every senior leader in the scramble to replace Amarinder Singh:

“He has become a subject of ridicule. Even common people are saying he is not a serious politician. He is seen as disinterested in letting a Dalit leader flourish. The party must close this chapter and move ahead without losing a single day.”

Besides, having appointed Channi, there is no going back: 

“If the party tries to strike any compromise with him and runs the risk of undermining Channi’s authority, the whole atmosphere will get vitiated. We have to forget Sidhu and persist with the Dalit card.”

The bottomline: Congress-watching is like witnessing a train wreck… over and over and over again.

Reading List

The Telegraph has all the insider quotes on Sidhu’s resignation, while Indian Express has a detailed version of why he resigned. Swati Chaturvedi in Gulf News analyses the mess the Gandhis have made for themselves. The Hindu lays out the risks and opportunities of the ‘Punjab Operation’ for the Gandhis and Congress. This older Indian Express piece offers an excellent profile of Sidhu.