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New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday distanced itself from Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s claim that becoming Punjab’s chief minister requires “ Rs 500 crore,” saying the party does not endorse such allegations and will examine her full statement before deciding on further action. Sources in the party said that while they had taken note of her comments, the Congress “does not agree” with her statement that the chief ministerial post can be “bought.”
“We have seen the statement but we need to examine the full context and will certainly analyse it,” sources said. “We do not agree with her remark of Rs 500 crore, it is totally false. The party selects its chief ministerial face strictly as per established procedure.”
The reaction comes after Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, issued a stark ultimatum that her husband would only return to active politics if the party declared him its chief ministerial candidate. Speaking to reporters after meeting Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, she claimed that while the Sidhus “always speak for Punjab and Punjabiyat,” they lack the financial muscle to compete with others.
“We don’t have Rs 500 crore to give and sit in the Chief Minister’s chair,” she said. When asked whether such a demand had been made to them, she replied that no one asked directly, “but the one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore becomes the CM.” She insisted her husband could transform the state if given full authority: “If any party gives him that power to improve Punjab… we will give results and turn Punjab into a golden state.”
Her remarks also reignited conversations about internal discord within the Punjab Congress. She alleged that there are “five strong contenders” vying for the CM’s post who are “hell bent” on preventing Sidhu’s rise. Despite this, she maintained that Navjot Singh Sidhu remains loyal to the party, especially to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Congress sources, however, pushed back against her portrayal of factionalism and hinted that the high command may seek clarification.
“She may feel alienated due to local politics, but as a party we never acknowledge any preconditions to work for the organisation,” the leader said. “We will analyse the whole statement and if necessary, issue a notice to understand what she actually meant.”
The BJP on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, saying her remarks reveal the “deep-rooted corruption” within the Congress organisation.
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi argued that her statement lays bare the state of the party.
“Today, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, a senior leader of the Congress party in Punjab and wife of former Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu said that in Congress party anybody can only think of becoming Chief Minister if he is having Rs 500 crores in his suitcase," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
“It has become very clear that corruption has reached Congress to such a level that, from leaders to carders from the government to the party, Congress has been totally engulfed in corrupt practices…” Trivedi added.
