Navjot Sidhu finally meets Rahul Gandhi, but tightlipped on what transpired
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 30
Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday evening met Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence to discuss his Punjab role.
The meeting lasted for nearly an hour.
Sidhu refused to talk to the media and gestured with folded hands as his car drove past mediapersons who were waiting for him outside Rahul’s residence.
Earlier, Congress president Sonia Gandhi left her son Rahul Gandhi’s residence.
Sidhu met Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra earlier in the day.
Discussions on what the Congress leadership is likely to offer Sidhu remains on the cards. Sidhu has been making a play for the position of Punjab Congress chief—a proposition that his longtime rival, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, has reportedly opposed.
The hectic parleys come less than a year before Punjab heads into assembly elections.
Priyanka Vadra earlier briefed brother Rahul on the matter. Gandhis are expected to make a final offer to Sidhu now before finalising the state revamp.
Amarinder, meanwhile, has indicated that while he was opposed to Sidhu being the state’s unit chief, he would not mind offering him the post of Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
It still remains to be seen how far the Congress would go to placate Sidhu.
Earlier, after his meeting with Priyanka, Sidhu tweeted a picture with her on his Twitter timeline midway saying “had a long meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.”
Sources close to Sidhu said Priyanka left for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s house in the middle of her meeting with Sidhu and then returned home.
AICC sources said a meeting between Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi may happen but the schedule was not shared.
Sidhu who reached New Delhi yesterday was not given time to meet Rahul Gandhi who said there was no meeting adding that, “I don’t know what is the fuss about.”
The Congress has discussed with Sidhu the offer of a deputy CM in the government and campaign committee chairman along with a possible seat in the party chief Sonia Gandhi led central election committee, which clears all the tickets.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is not agreeable to state unit chief role for Sidhu, who is keen to lead the party.
The Congress is seeking to balance the CM and Sidhu and would need to make a strong offer to the latter.
Meanwhile, the party has also recalled AICC Punjab panel Chief Mallikarjun Kharge from Bengaluru as it seeks to finalise the Punjab revamp nuances.
Kharge is in town.
Sources said Sonia Gandhi would finally take a call on how far the party can go to strike a crucial power balance in the state.
The party will finalise the state reorganisation by July 10.
The party sources said CM would continue to be at the helm which was evident with the high command asking him to deliver on 18 poll promises.
The sources also said the incumbent CM is normally the face of the party in any election.
In such a scenario it remains to be seen if the position of campaign committee chairman plus deputy CM would be acceptable to Sidhu who has been saying his fight was on issues and not for posts.
Had a long meeting with @priyankagandhi Ji 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Wd4FYXFrhr
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) June 30, 2021
Also read: ‘No meeting with Sidhu’, says Rahul hours after former Punjab minister leaves Patiala for Delhi
