Months after senior Congress leader and party’s “star campaigner” Navjot Singh Sidhu went into hibernation following differences with Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Tuesday declared renouncement from politics. In fact, Dr Sidhu claimed that she had also left the Congress “long ago”.

Virtually out of the political arena ever since was denied ticket for contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Dr Sidhu maintained that she had left the party right then.

However, no one confirmed that Dr Sidhu had submitted her formal resignation with the party.

Notably, Dr Sidhu wanted to contest election from Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, and had been campaigning in the segment much before the announcement of the elections. However, the party chose former MP and Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal over her. Later she was expected party ticket from Amritsar, but it was given to the sitting MP Gurjit Singh Aujla.

Dr Sidhu had, at that time, accused Capt Amarinder along with party’s State affairs in-charge Asha Kumari for denial of party ticket — an allegation categorically rubbished by the Chief Minister.

While Sidhu stood by his wife’s claims saying that “she never lies”, Capt Amarinder was not happy. But it was Sidhu’s “friendly match” remarks against Capt Amarinder and the Badals, just couple of days before the polling, that proved to be the last straw for the Sidhus.

Following party’s “not-so-good” performance in 2019 polls, Capt Amarinder directly blamed Sidhu for party’s poor show in urban pockets, while prevailing upon the party high command to change his portfolio. In protest, Sidhu resigned from the Cabinet in July and went into hibernation.

Dr Sidhu’s decision to “leave the Congress and the politics” came up as a surprise as Sidhu has decided to continue in the party even after rebelling against the party and his own Cabinet colleagues.

Inaugurating a local project at Verka in Amritsar, Dr Sidhu said that she had left the politicas and even the Congress since long. “I will not join any political party and now I am just a social worker,” she said.

Dr Sidhu, speaking to the media, said that now her main aim was the development of Sidhu’s constituency — Amritsar East. “I would even stage a protest against the Government if it does not work for the development of the people of Amritsar,” said Dr Sidhu, who is known for her rebellious attitude.

Maintaining that only Sidhu can comment on his resignation from the Cabinet, Dr Sidhu said that the only reason for differences between Capt Amarinder and her husband is that “some close aides” of the Chief Minister empoisoned him against Sidhu”.