Punjab Congress chief Sidhu builds his team, makes Pargat PPCC gen secy, organisation

Considered close to Navjot Singh Sidhu, Pargat Singh, a two-time MLA, has been critical of chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, questioning the state government’s failure to fulfil key poll promises

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday appointed Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh as PPCC general secretary, organisation.

Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh with Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. Both had joined the Congress in 2016. (Ravi Kumar/HT file photo)

“With the approval of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, AICC general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal and Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat, I hereby appoint Pargat Singh as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary, organisation, with immediate effect,” Sidhu tweeted.

Considered close to Sidhu, Pargat Singh, a two-time MLA, has been critical of chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh for the past more than two years, questioning the state government’s failure to fulfil key poll promises.

A former India hockey captain, Pargat Singh had won the 2012 assembly election from Jalandhar Cantonment on a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ticket. He joined the Congress with Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, also a BJP MLA, in November 2016 ahead of the state elections. Sidhu had also joined the party a few days later.

Last week, Sidhu, who took charge as the state Congress chief on July 23, appointed Lok Sabha member Dr Amar Singh, retired IPS officer Mohammad Mustafa, Dr Pyare Lal Garg and Malwinder Singh Mali as his advisers to seek their “wise counsel” on party affairs. While Mustafa declined the role, Mali got into a controversy for his strident comments on social media against Capt Amarinder Singh and the Hindu community with several party leaders disapproving of his statements.