Deputy CM Shivakumar Suggests Mental Health Facility for Sidhu

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has suggested that Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu consider admission to a mental health facility following her controversial remarks regarding the Chief Minister’s position. During a media interaction on March 15, 2024, Sidhu claimed that “one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore becomes the Chief Minister,” comments that elicited strong responses from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Shivakumar, who also serves as the state Congress president, responded sharply to Sidhu’s statement, saying, “Let her be admitted to a hospital, some good mental hospital.” His remarks reflect the heightened tensions surrounding the Congress party’s internal dynamics and political strategies in Punjab.

The controversy began when Sidhu, the wife of former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, made her comments after meeting with Gulab Chand Kataria, the Governor of Punjab. She expressed that her husband would re-enter active politics if the Congress party named him as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2027 polls. Sidhu emphasized that while they advocate for the interests of Punjab, they do not possess the financial means to pay for a position in government.

“I am shocked to see the twist given to a straight comment,” Sidhu stated in a post on social media platform X. She clarified that neither she nor her husband had ever been asked to provide funds for a political position. Instead, she pointed out that her remarks were taken out of context, asserting, “We have no money to offer for a CM post.”

This incident has sparked significant debate about the political landscape in Punjab, with party officials from the BJP and AAP criticizing Congress for its leadership and governance. The statements from both Shivakumar and Sidhu highlight the ongoing struggles within the party as it prepares for future elections.

As the political drama unfolds, the focus remains on how the Congress party will navigate these challenges and whether Sidhu’s remarks will have any lasting impact on her political career or the party’s standing in Punjab.