Navjot Kaur Sidhu Alleges Rs 500 Crore Suitcase Decides Punjab CM, Sunil Jakhar Backs Claim, Sparks Political Firestorm

Chandigarh: A storm has erupted in the Congress after a sensational claim by Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of senior leader Navjot Singh Sidhu. She alleged that the Chief Minister’s post in the party can be “bought” with a suitcase containing Rs 500 crore. The statement has not only stirred controversy within Congress but also drew support from BJP’s Punjab state president Sunil Jakhar. Jakhar added that non-Sikh leaders in Congress often miss opportunities to become CM due to internal biases.

Sidhu’s Wife Speaks Out
On Saturday, Navjot Kaur Sidhu met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and later addressed the media, sharply criticizing the Congress leadership. She claimed that whoever brings a Rs 500 crore suitcase can secure the CM post. She further stated that her family does not possess such an amount, implying that Navjot Singh Sidhu’s political resurgence might be contingent upon such financial transactions. She asserted that if any party empowers Sidhu to work for Punjab, he would deliver transformative results for the state.

Political Fallout: Congress Under Fire
Following her comments, Congress once again came under scrutiny from rival parties. AAP’s state spokesperson Neel Garg condemned the alleged “sale” of the CM’s chair for Rs 350–500 crore, calling it an open act of corruption rather than politics. BJP’s Sunil Jakhar also launched a strong attack on Congress. Without naming anyone specifically, Jakhar claimed he had been informed that a CM post was secured for Rs 350 crore in the past.

Jakhar’s Personal Experience
Sunil Jakhar, who had left Congress for BJP in 2022, revealed that despite having the support of 40–42 MLAs in the 2021 Congress legislative meeting, he was denied the CM position because he was Hindu. The post eventually went to Charanjit Singh Channi. Jakhar joined BJP in May 2022 and was appointed Punjab BJP president in July 2023.

The explosive remarks by Navjot Kaur Sidhu have once again thrown Punjab’s political arena into turmoil, highlighting internal rifts within Congress and raising questions about the transparency of leadership appointments.