Congress's Navjot Sidhu loses to AAP rival by over 6,000 votes in Punjab

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday faced an embarassing defeat in the Amritsar (East) seat of Punjab to the AAP's Jeewan Jyot Kaur by over 6,000 votes, His party too fared poorly with the projections showing a lead in less than 20 of 117 assembly seats. In the last state elections, the Congress had got 77 seats while the AAP - which is set to win over 90 constituencies- had got just 20 seats. Several political heavyweights have not been able to win their constiuencies this time. Former chief minister Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister CS Channi, who was contesting from two seats (Chamkaur Saheb and Bhadaur), the Badals of the Akali Dal are among those who faced a shock loss in the state election on Thursday.

Sidhu's criticism of Amarinder Singh had been at the heart of an infighting in Congress as he raised multiple issues with the party's high command. Later, he was picked as the Punjab Congress chief, getting a crucial say in the matters in the months before the polls. Sidhu had not shied away from openly criticising Captain Singh. Amarinder Singh - when he had stepped down as the CM and left the Congress - said he was humiliated.

When Rahul Gandhi had declared weeks before the voting in the state that CS Channi, Amarinder Singh's successor, will be the party's CM pick, Sidhu had said he would "abide by the decision". The high drama and turbulence, however, did not translate into votes for the Congress or Sidhu. In his message to AAP, Sidhu said in a tweet on Thursday - "The voice of the people is the voice of God …. Humbly accept the mandate of the people of Punjab …. Congratulations to Aap !!! (sic)"