Chandigarh: The Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said Local Bodies minister Navjot Sidhu had directly "challenged" the authority of Congress president Rahul Gandhi by "opposing" the appointments of Mayors.   

Former minister and party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said it was strange that the state minister was not even ready to adhere to the authority of the Congress President.   

"This is amply proved from the manner in which Sidhu boycotted the meeting held to elect the Mayor in Amritsar and even forced councilors loyal to him to boycott the meeting", he said in a release.   

Cheema said: "Holding elections is the responsibility of the State government. But the decision on whom to appoint Mayor of a particular Corporation is that of the Congress party. Navjot has not challenged a policy decision."   

"He has challenged a party decision. He has even aired his perceived grievance in public. He has in this process challenged Rahul Gandhi's control over the Punjab Congress as well as the Congress party," he claimed.   

Notably, Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today expressed his "displeasure" against the Amarinder Singh-led government as well as the Congress for not involving him in discussion or meeting for the election of three Mayors of Patiala, Amritsar, and Jalandhar. PTI