After months of strained relationship, crickete- turned-politician and Amritsar MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu is likely to be back in the Punjab Cabinet. The former Lok Sabh and Rajya Sabha MP had quit his parent party BJP over differences and joined the Congress before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who had axed Sidhu from his cabinet early this year, invited the former Indian skipper over lunch at his official residence in Chandigarh triggering speculation that Sidhu may be re-inducted into the State Cabinet.
Both leaders have not been on the best of terms since May last year when the Punjab CM accused the former cricketer of the “inept handling” of the Local Government Department, claiming it resulted in “poor performance” of the Congress in urban areas during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Sidhu was stripped of key portfolios in a cabinet reshuffle, after which he resigned from the state cabinet and stayed away from all Congress activities.
In between, there were also rumours that Sidhu can join Aam Admi Party which did not materialise as the famous television humorist had put conditions that he should be announced as the party”s Chief Ministerial candidate when the next assembly elections in Punjab was to be announced.
According to sources close to the chief minister, both leaders spent an hour together at Amarinder Singh”s residence and shared thoughts on various issues. “It was a warm and cordial luncheon meeting that saw Captain Amarinder and Navjot Singh Sidhu discuss a host of important political matters of Punjab and national interest. The two leaders spent a pleasant over an hour sharing thoughts on vital issues,” said the sources.
Earlier, Sidhu had made a public appearance at a “tractor rally” against the Centre”s farm laws in Moga last month where party leader Rahul Gandhi, Amarinder Singh and others were also present. Sidhu attended the “tractor rally” after AICC general secretary Harish Rawat met him at his residence in Amritsar.