After her meeting with the state Governor Gulab Chand, Sidhu remarked that the individual who supplies “a suitcase of ₹ 500 crore” becomes the Chief
Minister.
The comment drew swift condemnation from leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who are now scrutinizing the Congress party’s position and demanding answers.
Baltej Pannu, the AAP’s Punjab general secretary, contended that Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s remarks unveil the inner workings of the Congress. He asserted that party leadership is often determined by personal interests and financial clout, rather than what is best for Punjab.
Pannu deemed her statement “deeply troubling,” stating that the people of Punjab deserve a transparent explanation from Congress regarding these assertions.
Following her comments, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh remarked, “Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu has highlighted the ‘money bags’ politics within Congress by openly stating that the Chief Minister’s position in Punjab costs ₹500 crore, which her husband, Navjot Singh Sidhu, was unable to afford.”
Her remarks also stirred internal unrest within the party.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, a Congress MP and former Punjab deputy chief minister, pointed out that Navjot Singh Sidhu was appointed as a minister and later became the state Congress president through the party’s selection.
Randhawa questioned her assertion regarding the necessity of monetary influence for obtaining high-ranking positions, asking, “How much money did he provide and to whom for that?” He further stated that being the party president holds even greater significance than being the Chief Minister. “Making such an accusation after serving as party president is anti-party. The high command should investigate,” he said.
Reflecting on her husband, a former President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, she mentioned that Sidhu might return to active politics only if Congress selects him as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the 2027 Assembly elections.
However, she expressed skepticism about this possibility, highlighting intense rivalries within the state Congress, with several senior leaders vying for the top position. “We consistently advocate for Punjab and Punjabiyat, but do not possess ₹500 crore to occupy the chief minister’s chair,” she claimed.
She asserted that Sidhu genuinely cares for Punjab and its citizens and aspires to represent the state. However, she alleged that they cannot compete with leaders who have the financial resources to sway politics and ‘purchase’ influential positions.
“If any party grants him the authority to enhance Punjab, we may not have money to give to any party, but we will deliver results and transform Punjab into a golden state,” she concluded.
