After Kamal Nath's resignation, Sheila Dixit set to take over as Congress in-charge of Punjab

[caption id=“attachment_1244391” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sheila Dikshit. Reuters[/caption] A day after Kamal Nath’s resignation as the party-in-charge of Punjab, Sheila Dixit, the former Delhi Chief Minister is expected to take over the now vacant post, reported India Today. While there has been no official announcement from Congress, Dixit’s appointment as the Congress in-charge of Punjab is supposed to happen within the next two days. Dikshit, a veteran leader of the party was born in Punjab and is said to enjoy a considerable amount of support in Punjab, reported  India.com. She had last served as Governor of Kerala. The report further said that the Congress came under attack for Nath’s appointment as party in-charge of Punjab and Haryana. Kamal Nath has been accused of playing an instrumental role in the 1984 Sikh riots in Delhi. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal referred to Nath’s appointment as “the ultimate insult to Sikhs”, reported  The Indian Express. “The Congress is rewarding Kamal Nath for obeying (then Prime Minister) Rajiv Gandhi’s orders during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi,” AAP leader and eminent lawyer HS Phoolka had said at a press conference on 13 June. Citing documents, AAP leader and an advocate fighting for the victims of the 1984 riots, HS Phoolka, had claimed that Nath was a part of the mob that attacked the Rakab Ganj Sahib Gurudwara in Delhi on 1 November, 1984 In his defence Nath said he had been “absolved” of all charges by the Nanavati Inquiry Commission. Responding to attacks Nath claimed the charges to be “political” and said that these were intended at expanding AAP’s base in the state that goes to polls next year. “Since the party is contesting Assembly polls in Punjab I think the perception again is very clear. This is politics.” said Nath. Nath in his resignation letter expressed his gratitude to Sonia Gandhi for his appointment and wrote, “I am practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me.”