Sidhu may get a bigger role to resolve Punjab Congress feud

According to sources, Navjot Singh Sidhu's visit to Delhi might help him to get a crucial lead against Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh as he is likely to get a bigger role in the organizational revamp.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing feud within the Punjab unit of Congress, Navjot Singh Sidhu's visit to Delhi may help him to get a crucial lead against Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh. According to the sources, Sidhu is likely to get a bigger role in the organizational revamp. It is being informed that given the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab, Congress has started considering the anti-incumbency factor for which the three-member committee, constituted to resolve Punjab Congress infighting, has also suggested for a Cabinet reshuffle.

A party source also informed that Congress' high command is not very happy with Captain Amrinder Singh as a majority of the MLAs have addressed their grievances against the party leadership in Punjab. In line with this, Navjot Singh Sidhu, former Cabinet Minister of Punjab, may get a new and bigger responsibility in the state. On Wednesday, Navjot Singh Sidhu had a meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. This meeting can be considered quite crucial amid the ongoing crisis in Punjab.

Read:|Punjab CM meets with party MLAs, cabinet ministers ahead of Delhi meeting

Though Sidhu said nothing after he met with the Gandhis but he tweeted a picture with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, stating, "Had a long meeting with Priyanka Ji." While speaking to ETV Bharat, Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat said, "Of course these meetings will help us to resolve the ongoing feud in Punjab Congress. They must have given some suggestions during the meeting. So it will help us out."

Rawat, who is also a member of the AICC panel, met Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday, after Sidhu's meeting with Priyanka Gandhi. It has been reported that a formula is being prepared after their meeting to resolve the crisis. "The panel has completed its work. Now, all we need to do is that when party high command will take some decision, we would be consulted. Otherwise, we have submitted our report and party high command has to take the final call," Rawat informed.

Read:|Sidhu in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi denies any meeting with him

According to reports, Navjot Singh Sidhu has been offered a ministerial berth in the Punjab government as well as the post of party's Campaign Committee Chief. However, Sidhu had earlier clarified that he does not want to work under Captain Amrinder Singh. Sidhu wanted to have an audience with Rahul Gandhi to press upon his demands regarding his appointment as Punjab Congress Chief, sources informed. But Captain Amrinder Singh has been showing continuous resentment over this idea.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi's meeting with Sidhu has shown that the party high command is not willing to lose the disgruntled leader and is putting up all efforts to resolve his grievances. Ironically, during the visit of Punjab CM to Delhi, last week, he did not get to meet any of the three Gandhis. This is in sharp contrast to what Sidhu experienced on Thursday with the Gandhis.

On the other hand, Capt Amrinder Singh had lunch diplomacy with Hindu leaders of the state. His move can also be seen as a show of strength in the state. Replying to these speculations, Rawat said, "Capt Amrinder Singh has his own way in politics. This is not the first time when he has organised a lunch. He has not just called Punjab Congress MLAs but also many of the prominent leaders of the state."

Read:|Sidhu to meet top Congress leaders in Delhi