A major political controversy has erupted in Punjab following Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu's explosive allegation that securing the state's chief minister's position requires a "suitcase of ₹500 crore," a remark made during a media interaction after her meeting with Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Saturday. Kaur, wife of former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, suggested that her husband would only re-enter active politics if the party officially projected him as its chief ministerial face for the 2027 Assembly elections but dismissed the possibility due to alleged infighting among senior leaders lobbying for the post. "We always speak for Punjab and Punjabiyat... but do not have ₹500 crore, which we can give to sit in the chief minister's chair," she stated, emphasising that the Sidhus prioritise the state's interests over financial dealings, though no one had directly solicited money from them. The comments, delivered amid discussions on deteriorating law and order, have amplified existing tensions within the Congress and drawn sharp rebukes from rivals.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab's ruling outfit, seized on Kaur's words as an "explosive revelation" exposing the "real machinery" behind Congress leadership decisions, with general secretary Baltej Pannu questioning who pays such sums and to whom—whether to the state unit, high command, or figures like Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge. Chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal echoed this, calling it a reflection of the party's internal conflicts and arrogance, and demanding clarity on whether past roles held by Navjot Singh Sidhu, including as Congress president and cabinet minister, were similarly "purchased". AAP framed the remarks as evidence that Punjab politics has devolved into a "money-driven auction", sidelining democratic processes and the state's welfare for personal ambitions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched an even fiercer offensive, branding the statement a damning indictment of Congress's "deep-rooted corruption" and "money-bag politics". National spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that the party is "neck-deep in corruption", with the disease having spread from leaders to cadres, rendering neither the country nor the Constitution safe under their influence. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, a former Congress member, claimed he faced a similar situation years ago when told the chief ministership required ₹350 crore, quipping that Kaur might possess an audio recording of such dealings. National general secretary Tarun Chugh accused the Gandhi family of moral collapse, linking the allegation to broader patterns of ticket distribution and leadership elevations through financial means.
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Within the Congress, the fallout has deepened factional rifts ahead of the 2027 polls, with Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa publicly questioning the Sidhus' motives and accusing them of undermining the party from within. Randhawa pointedly asked if Navjot Singh Sidhu would reveal who paid for his own elevation to state chief, implying the family's "mission" in Congress was complete and their claims hypocritical given the multiple chief ministerial aspirants already in the fray. This internal discord highlights Punjab Congress's ongoing struggles, exacerbated by Sidhu's prolonged absence from party activities—he skipped the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, returned to IPL commentary, and launched a YouTube channel—amid persistent power struggles.
Navjot Singh Sidhu's political journey, marked by his 2017-2022 stint as a cabinet minister and brief party presidency, has long been turbulent, including a high-profile fallout with then-Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh that contributed to Congress's 2022 Assembly election loss to AAP. Kaur's intervention revives these fault lines, positioning the Sidhus as principled outsiders unwilling to "buy" influence, while vowing to transform Punjab into a "golden state" if empowered. As demands for investigations grow, the row underscores broader concerns over money's role in Indian politics, with opposition parties urging the Election Commission to probe the allegations.
The controversy shows no signs of abating, with social media amplifying calls for accountability and memes mocking Congress's leadership model. For Punjab Congress, already reeling from electoral setbacks and infighting, Kaur's remarks risk further eroding unity at a critical juncture, potentially benefiting AAP's incumbency and BJP's outreach in the border state. As the 2027 elections loom, this episode serves as a stark reminder of how personal ambitions and corruption narratives can dominate the discourse, leaving voters to ponder whether Punjab's future hinges on integrity or ill-gotten gains.
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