'Unfurls New Anti-Mafia Era': Congress' Sidhu on Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

"Bhagwant Mann unfurls a new anti-Mafia era in Punjab with a mountain of expectations," Sidhu said.

File pic of Navjot Singh Sidhu with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Photo: Navjot Singh Sidhu / Twitter

A day after resigning as the Punjab Congress chief, Navjot Singh Sidhu took to social media to endorse the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which recorded a thumping victory in the Assembly polls by winning 92 of the 117 seats in the state.

Sidhu also congratulated the new chief minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, who was sworn-in on Wednesday, 16 March, at Khatar Kalan, saying that Mann "unfurls a new anti-mafia era in Punjab."

“The happiest man is the one from whom no one expects … Bhagwant Mann unfurls a new anti-Mafia era in Punjab with a mountain of expectations …hope he rises to the occasion, brings back Punjab on the revival path with pro-people policies … best always,” he wrote.

Sidhu has been facing criticism after he congratulated the people of Punjab for their ‘excellent decision’ of choosing AAP.

"This election was for a change, people took a great decision and the public is never wrong," the leader was quoted as saying by reports.

Sidhu Submits Resignation

On Tuesday, 15 March, Sonia Gandhi had asked the chiefs of five states where Assembly elections had recently concluded to step down. A day later, Sidhu officially resigned from his post.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, 16 March, Sidhu posted a one-line resignation letter captioned: "As desired by the Congress President I have sent my resignation...(sic)."

Sidhu featured prominently in Congress' prolonged infighting last year. Many believe he was one of the key reasons behind the party's disastrous defeat.

Sidhu constantly accused former CM Captain Amarinder Singh on issues like drug mafia and claimed that he was going soft on his political rivals accused in the sacrilege case.

After Captain was sacked from his position, Sidhu tried to project himself as the replacement for the CM post and further went on opposing Amarinder Singh's successor Charanjit Singh Channi. He even continued taking jabs at his own party's government in the state.

The Congress party could only win 18 seats, a massive decline from the 77 it had won in 2017.

Charanjit Singh Channi lost from both the seats he contested.

Sidhu himself lost from the Amritsar East seat. His rival Jeevanjyot Kaur of AAP won by nearly 6000 votes.