Chandigarh: The face-off in the Punjab Congress which has been on for a long time, though has ended with Sidhu being appointed the new President of Punjab Congress, it seems to be unresolved. It is known that former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had been protesting against his own government and Captain Amarinder Singh after the Punjab and Haryana High Court had rejected the report of former IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh in a contempt case. Since his appointment by the Congress High Command to head Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Sidhu has been meeting Congress MLAs and party leaders in a bid to reportedly strengthen his influence. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has also not let his guard down, remaining adamant seeking an apology from Sidhu.
Now in a bid to woo voters of all religions, Sidhu having become the commander of Punjab Congress, has been regularly offering prayers at religious places. Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to offer prayers at the Golden Temple might have been a bid to attract Sikh voters. It could also be his move to lure the 19 percent of Jat Sikh voters in Punjab. All those MLAs and ministers who used to earlier side with Captain Amarinder Singh, are now supporting Sidhu. Now it is difficult to say whether these 60-odd lawmakers are really with Sidhu or whether the greed of chair has forced them to go along. Sidhu was accompanied by former PPCC President Sunil Jakhar, Minister Tripat Rajinder Bajwa, MLA Inderbir Singh Bularia, Pirmal Singh, Madan Lal Jalalpur, Harjot Kamal, Brindar Dhillon and Amritsar Mayor Rintu.
Read: Sidhu flexes his muscles, 62 MLAs throng his place
Several other leaders who accompanied Sidhu were - MLA Joginder Pal Bhoa, Pargat Singh, Sardar Tarsem Singh DC, Executive Chairman Pawan Goyal, Sher Singh Ghubaya, MLA Angad Saini, Working President Kuljit Nagra, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Kulbir Singh Zira, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, MLA Avtar Henry's son Bawa Henry, Gurpreet Singh, GP Lakhvir Singh Lakha, Gurkirat Singh Kotli and Sardar Sangat Singh Gilzian.
Earlier, Sidhu had also offered prayers in temples to attract Hindu voters in Punjab who comprise of 38.49 percent, 31.94 percent of Dalit voters. There are also 10.57 percent people of other religions who live in Punjab. On the day Navjot Singh Sidhu's presidency was announced, he had also offered prayers at the Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, Kali Mata Mandir and a mosque in Patiala to attract voters of all religions.
On Monday, Sidhu had called for a meeting with Cabinet Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa at his residence. 35 MLAs and ministers were present in the meeting including former state president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Sunil Jakhar, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhwinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria, Razia Sultana and Charanjit Singh Channi.
Read: How 'PCC President' Sidhu will deal over sacrilege, drug menace & mining issues?
