Navjot Sidhu, whose shock resignation as party chief – described as an “emotional” outburst by his advisers – took the Congress by surprise on Tuesday, will be kept in loop while picking a replacement for the state’s advocate general Amar Preet Singh Deol, sources said.

Punjab saw a reshuffle in the top bureaucracy after the leadership change last month. APS Deol was appointed on Monday as Atul Nanda resigned from the post following the unceremonious exit of Amarinder Singh as the Punjab Chief Minister.

A 10-member panel has been sent to the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) for the appointment of a new director general of police (DGP) – another sticking point. Sources indicated that Mr Channi is ready to drop Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota as Punjab police chief. He was also picked for the role just last week.

Mr Sahota’s appointment was a problem because he was the head of a Special Investigation Team to probe the 2015 sacrilege case – a highly emotive issue. The probe in the case had also been a reason of discord between Amarinder Singh and Mr Sidhu.

The Congress has also agreed to set up a government-party panel ahead of the state polls due early next year.

Charanjit Channi is the first Dalit face to lead Punjab. The Congress has attacked its critics, who have been targeting the party amid the political turmoil, by calling them “anti-Dalit”.

Mr Sidhu was also upset about the cabinet changes made by Mr Channi.

Navjot Singh Sidhu was appointed as the Punjab Congress Chief after a year-long bitter feud with Amarinder Singh. “My fight is issue-based and I have stood by it for a long time. I cannot compromise with my ethics, my moral authority,” Mr Sidhu had said in a video statement, a day after his resignation. “What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I cannot misguide the high command nor can I let them be misguided,” he had added.

Amarinder Singh, one of the tallest leaders in Punjab, on Thursday declared he will quit the Congress but he won’t join the BJP. The remark came a day after his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, which his aide said was about farmer issues. He had earlier took a jibe at the Congress over Mr Sidhu’s shock move with his “I told you so” tweet.

Captain also admitted that the Congress turmoil will benefit the AAP, which is preparing to give a tough fight in the state election. A survey — done by the Congress between July and September — shows that it has “seen a 20% decline”, said the former Chief Minister.