Outspoken former MLA faces action after fresh charges of corruption within the party
Chandigarh, December 8, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) – The Punjab Congress has plunged into fresh turmoil today after state party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring suspended Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu from the primary membership of the party, triggering a new round of internal firestorms at a time when the organisation is already grappling with factional strains.
Dr Sidhu, a former Amritsar MLA and parliamentary secretary in the previous Congress government led by Captain Amarinder Singh, has in recent days targeted her own party with a string of barbed remarks on alleged corruption. Her latest charge, delivered earlier today, alleged that several senior Congress leaders had taken large sums of money in exchange for party tickets. She also claimed that those aspiring for the chief minister’s post were expected to wield a figurative bag stuffed with five hundred crore rupees.
Party insiders see the suspension as a swift attempt by Warring to stem the damage as Dr Sidhu’s comments spread quickly through political circles and social media. The move also reflects growing anxiety within the Congress over undisciplined public outbursts that undermine its credibility ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Dr Sidhu, wife of former MP and cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, has had a history of strained ties with party leadership. She resigned as chief parliamentary secretary in 2016, accusing the then state government of ignoring health issues she had raised. After the 2022 assembly election, she remained largely on the sidelines while her husband pursued an outspoken political path of his own.
Today’s developments have sharpened the spotlight on the Congress high command. Senior leaders in Delhi are expected to review the matter, especially since the allegations, if left unchallenged, threaten to revive memories of ticket distribution controversies that have dogged the party in previous elections.
Political observers say the episode highlights once again how public dissent within the ranks continues to haunt the Congress in Punjab. The leadership now faces a delicate balancing act as it attempts to enforce discipline without provoking further ruptures among restless cadres.
With the suspension taking effect, attention will now shift to the party’s next steps and whether Dr Sidhu plans to escalate her claims. Her remarks have already stirred debate across the state’s political landscape, setting the stage for another turbulent chapter in Punjab’s Congress politics.
