Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said Local Bodies minister Navjot Sidhu had directly challenged the authority of Congress president Rahul Gandhi by opposing the appointments of Mayors done by the Congress president and insisting that he should have had the final say in making these appointments.
Reacting on the development, former minister and party spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said it was strange that the State minister was not even ready to adhere to the authority of the Congress President. “This is amply proved from the manner in which Navjot boycotted the meeting held to elect the Mayor in Amritsar and even forced councilors loyal to him to boycott the meeting”.
Dr. Cheema said all this was quite puzzling. “Holding elections is the responsibility of the State government. But the decision on whom to appoint Mayor of a particular Corporation is that of the Congress party. Navjot has not challenged a policy decision. He has challenged a party decision. He has even aired his perceived grievance in public. He has in this process challenged Rahul Gandhi’s control over the Punjab Congress as well as the Congress party. This is not expected from any State minister”, he added.
