Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday resigned from his post saying he could not face any more humiliation within his own party.
Singh, who has been facing rebellion from his own MLAs, submitted his resignation to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit. “Submitted my resignation to Honble Governor,” Singh tweeted.
Submitted my resignation to Honble Governor. pic.twitter.com/sTH9Ojfvrh
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) September 18, 2021
Singh later told reporters that he had informed Congress President Sonia Gandhi that ‘this kind of humiliation is enough.’ “..This is happening for the third time. I can’t continue to stay in the party with this kind of humiliation,” Singh was quoted by NDTV.
Singh’s son Raninder Singh too tweeted, “… Indeed must go now I am proud to accompany my father to Raj Bhawan when he submits his resignation as CM of Punjab and leads us as head of our family into a new beginning et all.”
Singh’s resignation comes just months before Punjab goes to polls. The outgoing Congress chief minister said that his party high command was free to appoint anyone as his successor. “Whoever they (party high command) have faith in, can make them,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Singh’s resignation came hours after Harish Rawat, the AICC General Secretary in charge of Punjab affairs, tweeted directing the state leadership to hold an emergency meeting of all its MLAs. Rawat had tweeted, “The AICC has received a representation from a large number of MLAs from the congress party, requesting to immediately convene a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party of Punjab. Accordingly, a meeting of the CLP has been convened at 5:00 PM on 18th September at Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee office. AICC directs the PPCC to facilitate this meeting. All congress MLAs of Punjab are requested to kindly attend this meeting.”
Experts say that the Congress in Punjab may well be headed towards a split ahead of the next assembly polls, scheduled in February next year.
