Senior IAS officer of Punjab cadre, Ms. Parampal Kaur Sidhu (2011 batch), who was last posted as the managing director of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation, joined the BJP on April 11. She was due to retire in October.
Officer Sidhu’s family is full of seasoned politicians and veterans with significant political influence. She is the daughter-in-law of veteran Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, and her spouse is the Akali Dal supremo, Mr. Gurpreet Singh Maluka.
CM Bhagwant Mann has been critical of Ms. Sidhu’s decision and had warned her of serious implications should she join politics before her resignation was accepted by the administration. Taking to X, CM Mann asked her to respect the procedure for acceptance of voluntary retirement. Ms. Parampal Kaur Sidhu is rumoured to have secured a BJP ticket from the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat.