Congress is working out a strategy to accommodate its firebrand leader Navjot Singh Sidhu in the party. His induction as the “one of the two party presidents” is one of the proposals under consideration of the party high command.
Available information suggests that the party high command is ready with the “formula” to end the stalemate between the state’s senior leaders and only a final meeting with the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was on the horizon to finalize the same.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder is also ready with a “favorable” name to propose to the high command, in case it decided to go ahead with the proposal. Once again going in for lunch diplomacy, the Chief Minister on Thursday met with party’s over two dozen Hindu leaders, including Cabinet Ministers, a parliamentarian, legislators, and also those supporting him or were not happy with him.
The development came a day after Sidhu had a meeting with the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi with party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra playing a crucial role of the crisis manager by convincing her brother for the meeting. Notably, Rahul Gandhi had taken a strong exception to Sidhu’s recent remarks against the Chief Minister, and had virtually snubbed the former Minister when he reached the national capital to meet him.
It has been learnt that no meeting was scheduled between Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi till Priyanka Gandhi intervened. After hectic parleys, Sidhu met Rahul Gandhi for moiré than 45 minutes.
Sources informed The Pioneer that Sidhu had reportedly agreed to thigh command’s proposal, but it was still unclear what was in the proposal, and whether it would be acceptable to the Chief Minister.
As per available information, deliberations were held on giving Sidhu the post of Deputy Chief Minister and campaign committee in-charge, besides appointing him as the state party unit chief. While Sidhu expressed his keenness to lead the state party unit, he reportedly was not happy to be second-in-command to his bête noire Capt Amarinder.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder has also categorically opposed to appoint Sidhu as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, contending that running a government would be difficult for him with the former cricketer leading at the helm of state party unit.
Another proposal — to have two deputy Chief Ministers — was also discussed, but was reportedly rejected by Sidhu, who was pressing for the post of party chief.
However, it has been learnt that to defuse the intense infighting, the Congress high command has come up with another formula of appointing two party presidents, one being Sidhu. Besides, a change in party’s organization structure, Cabinet reshuffle is also on the cards.
If sources are to be believed, Sidhu may be appointed as one of the two PPCC chief, while the Chief Minister is likely to propose the name of his loyalist and state Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla or Sri Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari for the second post.
The names of Singla and Tewari were discussed in the meeting between the Chief Minister and senior party leaders from urban areas of the state over lunch at his official residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2.
Notably, with the Chief Minister being a Jat Sikh, appointing another Jat Sikh, Sidhu, as Punjab party president did not suit the Congress party, especially at a time when the other sections, including Dalits and OBCs, have been complaining of not giving them their due representation in the state party unit or in the government.