In a day full of suspense, Congress leader from Punjab Navjot Singh Sidhu finally met with his party’s former president Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence at Tughlak Lane in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting lasted for more than an hour and Sidhu left without making any statement. He also met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at her residence earlier in the day. These meetings are seen as final efforts by the Gandhi family to sort out differences between Sidhu and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and find suitable roles for Sidhu in Punjab Congress.
Sidhu has been at loggerheads with Captain Amarinder and raised a banner of revolt against him. If sources are to be believed, the party will contest the Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu will be the head of the campaign committee. On this formula, the Chief Minister is expected to have a meeting with Rahul Gandhi soon. If there is a consensus, the party will announce it soon.
Sources said that after the meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sidhu agreed to follow the party’s suggested formula. A three-member committee headed by Mallikarjun Kharge had suggested making Sidhu as Deputy Chief Minister and a member of the campaign committee. It was decided to give the post of state president to non-Sikhs. The post of state president will most likely be given to a Dalit leader.
Because Amarinder Singh is a Jat Sikh, this post cannot be given to Sidhu. Sources say that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra explained to him that he could not become the president. He was given the option of taking the post of Deputy Chief Minister and the head of the campaign committee. Sources said Sidhu agreed to take the responsibility of the campaign committee. Finally, in a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Sidhu agreed to follow the party formula.
Sources said that now, Amarinder Singh can meet Rahul Gandhi within a few
days. After that, the formula will be made public. Congress has to form several committees for the Punjab elections. With this, the state can get new state in-charge in place of Harish Rawat, who has been lobbying to become the head of the Uttarakhand campaign committee. After Punjab, Rahul Gandhi now has to deal with the party crisis in Uttarakhand as well.
Sidhu came to Delhi on Tuesday and had a marathon meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday morning at her residence. She left the meeting in the middle and reached Rahul Gandhi’s residence to brief him about the discussion. After meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra again reached her residence and completed her discussion with Sidhu. According to a source, Sidhu’s meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lasted for around four hours. Sidhu himself tweeted a picture with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and said, “had a long meeting with Priyanka GandhiJi.”
Meanwhile, sources say that the CM has invited the state’s Congress legislators for lunch at his residence on Thursday.