Sidhu had said her husband will return to active politics if the Congress declares him as the party's chief ministerial face in Punjab, ahead of the 2027 polls there.
She further said they do not have money to give to any party but can transform Punjab into a 'golden state'.
"We always speak for Punjab and Punjabiyat...but do not have Rs 500 crore which we can give to sit in chief minister's chair," she told reporters on Saturday after meeting Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on issues, including alleged deterioration of law and order in the state.
When asked if anybody demanded money from them, she said that was not the case but that the "one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore he becomes the CM".
She later claimed that a twist was given to her straight comment.
"I am shocked to see the twist given to a straight comment saying that our Congress party has never demanded anything from us. On being asked about Navjot becoming a CM face from any other party, I stated that we have no money to offer for a CM post," Kaur said in a post on X on Sunday evening.### Navjot Kaur Sidhu Suspended from Congress Party with Immediate Effect
In a swift and decisive move amid escalating internal rifts in Punjab's political landscape, the Congress party suspended Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu—wife of firebrand leader Navjot Singh Sidhu—from its primary membership on December 8, 2025. The action, taken just a day after her explosive public statement alleging rampant corruption in the party's leadership selection process, underscores the deepening fault lines within the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) as the state gears up for potential alliances and elections in 2027.
#### The Trigger: Bombshell Remark on '₹500 Crore Suitcase' for CM Post
The controversy ignited on December 7, 2025, during a media interaction in Amritsar, where Navjot Kaur addressed speculation about her husband's political rehabilitation within Congress. Responding to questions on why Navjot Singh Sidhu had stayed away from active party roles since resigning as PPCC president in 2021, she dropped a stunning allegation: "To become the Chief Minister, one has to deliver a suitcase full of ₹500 crore to the high command [implying the Gandhi family]. We don't have that kind of money, but we have the vision to turn Punjab into a golden state." She emphasized that Sidhu would only return if declared the CM face outright, prioritizing "Punjabiyat" over financial dealings.
The remark, laced with sarcasm yet interpreted as a direct indictment of the party's "cash-for-power" culture, went viral instantly, drawing sharp rebukes from Congress loyalists and ammunition for opposition parties like the BJP and AAP. It echoed long-standing whispers of money influencing ticket distribution and leadership picks in Punjab Congress, particularly after the 2022 assembly poll debacle where internal sabotage was blamed for the party's third-place finish.
#### Suspension Order: Immediate and Uncompromising
Hours after the backlash peaked, PPCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring issued the suspension order, effective immediately. The terse notice stated: "Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu is hereby suspended from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect, pending further inquiry into her anti-party activities and statements damaging the party's image." Warring, a close aide to Rahul Gandhi, cited the comments as "baseless, defamatory, and detrimental to party discipline," vowing a full disciplinary probe. This marks the latest in a series of high-profile expulsions aimed at quelling dissent ahead of Punjab's bypolls and the national leadership reshuffle.
Navjot Kaur, a former MLA from Amritsar East (2019-2022) and a doctor by profession, has been a low-key but vocal supporter of her husband's aggressive advocacy on issues like farmer distress and river water disputes. Her suspension is seen as a proxy strike at Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has repeatedly clashed with the state leadership over perceived favoritism toward the Channi and Bajwa factions.
#### Sidhu Family's Rocky Road in Congress
The Sidhus' tryst with Congress has been tumultuous, blending charisma with controversy:
| Year | Key Event | Impact |
|------|-----------|--------|
| **2017** | Navjot Singh Sidhu joins Congress after quitting BJP; wins Lok Sabha from Amritsar. | Boosts party's urban appeal but sows seeds of factionalism. |
| **2019** | Navjot Kaur enters assembly polls; wins Amritsar East. Sidhu appointed Punjab in-charge. | Family cements Majha region stronghold amid anti-farm law protests. |
| **2021** | Sidhu resigns as PPCC chief over CM Channi rift; goes on sabbatical. | Triggers leadership vacuum; party loses 2022 polls badly. |
| **2024** | Sidhu teases comeback but demands CM projection; family stays sidelined. | Heightens speculation of AAP or independent float. |
| **Dec 2025** | Navjot Kaur's remark leads to her suspension. | Jeopardizes Sidhu's return; fuels exit rumors. |
Navjot Singh Sidhu, absent from the scene since his throat cancer recovery in 2023, has maintained a cryptic social media presence, often critiquing AAP's governance without endorsing Congress.
#### Reactions: From Outrage to Schadenfreude
The suspension elicited a polarized response, amplifying the political theater:
- **Congress Defenders**: Warring dismissed the allegation as "fiction peddled by opportunists," while AICC spokesperson Supriya Shrinate called it a "desperate bid for relevance." Internal voices, including MP Preneet Kaur, urged unity, warning of BJP's "divide-and-rule" gains.
- **Opposition Fireworks**: BJP's Pradeep Bhandari lambasted Congress as a "family fiefdom where truth-tellers are punished," tweeting: "Only those with a ₹500-crore attaché get the CM chair—Kaur just exposed the Gandhis' uncomfortable reality." AAP's Sanjay Singh quipped, "Congress's corruption suitcase is heavier than Sidhu's gym bag," referencing the leader's fitness obsession.
- **Public and Sidhu Loyalists**: On X, hashtags like #JusticeForSidhu trended in Punjab, with supporters decrying the move as "high command vendetta." One user posted: "Congress didn't distance from the remark because it's the reality—suspend her for speaking facts?" Amritsar locals, where the family holds sway, voiced mixed sentiments, praising Kaur's candor but fearing a Majha exodus from Congress.
Navjot Singh Sidhu remained silent, but sources close to the family hinted at a "strategic pause," with whispers of exploratory talks with AAP or even a BJP revival.
#### Broader Implications for Punjab Politics
This episode exposes Congress's fragility in Punjab, where factional wars have eroded its 92-seat 2017 haul to just 18 in 2022. With AAP consolidating power under Bhagwant Mann and BJP eyeing a revival via alliances, the Sidhu suspension could alienate the party's urban and youth base in Majha-Doaba belts. Analysts predict it might accelerate a potential Sidhu-led splinter group or his defection, further fragmenting the anti-AAP opposition.
As the disciplinary committee convenes, all eyes are on Rahul Gandhi's response—will he broker reconciliation or let the purge continue? For now, Navjot Kaur's ouster serves as a stark reminder: In Congress's high-stakes game, candor can cost you your chair, but silence might cost the party its soul.
