New Delhi: Capt Amarinder Singh, the Punjab CM has begun gearing up for 2022 Assembly polls in the State, while Navjot Singh Sidhu continued to go all guns blazing at the former. Meanwhile, Captain's meeting with poll strategist Prashant Kishor is a significant development, indicating that the groundwork exercise has begun in Punjab and has drawn much interest in political circles. On the other hand, despite several meetings of the party high command with the state leaders, the organizational revamp within the Punjab unit of Congress still hangs.
This week, Captain Amarinder Singh was on a 2-day visit to the national capital, wherein he met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in an aim to give final shape to the truce formula to end the dissension in the state unit. After the meeting, the Chief Minister made it clear that whatever decision will be taken by the party High Command regarding the reorganization of Punjab Congress, will be acceptable to him. However, a move that raised eyebrows was Captain's meeting with the poll strategist Prashant Kishor, on Wednesday. It is known that Kishor was appointed as the Principal Advisor to Punjab CM in the month of March.
Read: Punjab CM meets Sonia, says 'will follow Cong president's instructions'
While confirming the meeting, a source close to Captain Amarinder Singh told ETV Bharat that Captain is busy preparing in advance for the upcoming Assembly Elections and that he is taking views and opinions of MPs, MLAs and other senior leaders in the state. Along with this, it is also being said that Prashant Kishor is chalking out a strategy and is conducting surveys ahead of the polls.
The meeting of Punjab CM and Prashant Kishor holds significance given the fact that the latter had claimed of quitting poll management post the victory of Trinamool Congress in West Bengal polls. Meanwhile, many of the Congress leaders aren't happy with Prashant Kishor as he enjoys proximity with the party's breakaway leaders Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Read: Sidhu may get a bigger role to resolve Punjab Congress feud
However, the biggest challenge that Captain Amarinder Singh faces at present is from his own party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu who has been launching scathing attacks against the Punjab Government. "These types of comments harm the party's image and plays down the morale of party workers. When this whole matter is now being handled by the party high command then Navjot Singh Sidhu should avoid making such statements. I think within the next 2-3 days, everything will be sorted and every mouth will be shut," a senior leader of Punjab Congress told ETV Bharat.
Also, Captain has once again reiterated his strong opposition to give Sidhu top position in the state unit, during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi as he asserted that the move will have serious implications in the upcoming Assembly Elections, sources say. While Sidhu is adamant over his demands to get the post of Punjab Congress Chief, the party is negotiating with him by offering him a post of Campaign Committee Chairman and Deputy Chief Minister. However, he has made it clear to the central leadership of the Congress party that he is not ready to work under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh. He even met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, last week, to press upon his demands.
Read: Rumours of key role for Sidhu after meeting with Rahul
