Former Delhi chief minister and veteran Congress leader Sheila Dikshit is likely to be made the party in-charge of Punjab. The appointment comes after Kamal Nath stepped down from the post over allegations of his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
She hails from Kapoorthala in Punjab and is considered close to Congress' CM face Captain Amarinder Singh. Elections in the state are due to be held in 2017.
Bringing in Sheila Dikshit would mean that there will yet another head on battle between her and the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who had dethroned her in the national capital. Kejriwal had levelled a series of allegations against the former chief minister in connection with the Commonwealth Games scam.
Stepping down from his post, Kamal Nath said in his letter to party President Sonia Gandhi, "I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab."
Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days ago, said he was "hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi."
Insisting that there was not even any complaint or FIR against him in the riots case, Kamal Nath said, "This canard is therefore nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections.... Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains."
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