The Punjab Congress is embroiled in a fresh controversy after former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu claimed that a "suitcase of Rs 500 crore" is required to become the state's Chief Minister. The claim has ignited a political firestorm, drawing sharp reactions and leading to Navjot Kaur's suspension from the primary membership of the party by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

Navjot Kaur made the explosive claim while speaking to reporters after meeting Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, alleging that corruption and monetary deals decide leadership posts in Punjab. She stated that her husband, Navjot Singh Sidhu, would only return to active politics if the Congress declared him its Chief Ministerial face for the 2027 elections and that they did not have the ₹500 crore reportedly needed to “buy” the post. "We always speak for Punjab and Punjabiyat... but do not have Rs 500 crore which we can give to sit in the chief minister's chair," she said. When asked if anybody demanded money from them, she clarified that nobody has demanded but "the one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore, he becomes the CM".

The Congress high command has stepped in to defuse the crisis triggered by Navjot Kaur Sidhu's remark. Senior party leader Rahul Gandhi has called a meeting with AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Bhupesh Baghel and other senior leaders later this week to discuss the issues. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also met with Baghel on Thursday. Sources indicate that a high-level committee will investigate the conflict within the state unit as part of a damage control exercise.

Warring has asserted that "conspiracies" aimed at weakening the party in the state will be defeated. He stated that the current controversy has been created to divert public attention and shift discourse from AAP's brutal abuse of police force in the zila parishad and block samiti elections. He added that the Congress is the only party that is certain to replace AAP in 2027, and some people without any base of their own have started speaking the language of the party's enemies.

The controversy has provided ammunition for the opposition, with the BJP and AAP seizing the moment to target the Congress over its internal functioning. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar claimed he was also told that Rs 350 crore could secure him a position. AAP leaders questioned whether the alleged “₹500-crore suitcase” was intended for the Congress high command or specifically for Rahul Gandhi.

The suspension of Navjot Kaur has fueled speculation about differences in leadership style and influence, as tensions within the Punjab Congress have surfaced between state president Warring and Kaur. Some believe that the controversy has been deliberately created to divert public attention from other issues.