Amid ongoing occasion feud in Punjab, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Saturday hailed the approaching collectively of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and former PPCC president Pratap Singh Bajwa, who’ve been at loggerheads for lengthy. Bajwa, who was changed as occasion’s state unit chief by Sunil Jakhar on the Captain’s behest, has been a relentless critic of the Amarinder Singh authorities. Nonetheless, on Saturday, the 2 leaders, curiously sporting related colored turbans, not solely met, but in addition shared smiles and posed for photographs.
This union, nonetheless, might not bode properly for Navjot Singh Sidhu, who’s taking a look at being appointed because the Punjab Congress chief. Sidhu, who has been engaged in a bitter battle with the Captain with their hostilities out within the open, has held parleys with the Gandhi siblings in Delhi amid rumours of his doable elevation. Nonetheless, Bajwa has opposed the thought of Sidhu’s appointment because the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president.
Bajwa, who has for lengthy been in settlement with different dissident leaders within the state searching for the ouster of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, is learnt to have “sealed” a political compromise together with his political rival. Bajwa had additionally mended his variations with Sukhjinder Randhawa and even joined arms with Sidhu.
In accordance with sources, a senior Congress chief has additionally conveyed to Sonia Gandhi a number of occasion members’ opposition to Sidhu’s promotion, allegedly saying “he doesn’t even know the street to the PPCC workplace in Chandigarh”.
Tewari, who’s in assist of a Hindu face because the occasion chief, welcomed the show of solidarity between Bajwa and Singh. “Good to see @Partap_Sbajwa & @capt_amarinder collectively together with our Hon’ble Speaker @RanakpINC & @iranasodhi.. Partap who I do know since 1983 and Captain Sahib would make a superb staff for the occasions forward. He’s an previous dyed within the wool Congress Man,” mentioned Tewari.
Punjab Speaker Rana KP Singh, Rajya Sabha MP and former PPCC president Pratap Singh Bajwa and cupboard minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi had known as on Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, at his residence on Saturday night.
Earlier, in the present day Sidhu, who’s being seen as a successor to CM Amarinder Singh, met Punjab occasion chief Sunil Jakhar in Panchkula. As per occasion sources his assembly with Jakhar is being seen as an try by the cricketer-turned-politician to convey all on board earlier than the proposed announcement.
In addition to Jakhar, Sidhu additionally met Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, senior chief Lal Singh, MLAs Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Kulbir Zira, Darshan Brar and Barindermeet Singh Pahra.
Sidhu additionally tweeted pictures with three earlier Punjab Congress chiefs — Partap Singh Bajwa, Lal Singh and Shamsher Singh Dullo — and incumbent PPCC president Jakhar.
In the meantime, Amarinder Singh on Saturday mentioned any determination taken by Congress president Sonia Gandhi shall be acceptable to all, at the same time as speak of Sidhu’s elevation regardless of his oft-stated reservations gathered power.
Amarinder Singh’s assertion got here after his assembly with AICC basic secretary and Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat, who flew right down to Chandigarh in what was seen as an effort to placate the chief minister. The chief minister additionally mentioned he raised “sure points” with Rawat in the course of the “fruitful” assembly at his farmhouse in Mohali.
In accordance with sources, Amarinder Singh is learnt to have instructed Rawat that he won’t meet Sidhu until he publicly regrets or apologises for his tweets in opposition to him. The chief minister is learnt to have instructed Rawat that the style by which the problem was dealt with was not acceptable and he nonetheless has reservations over Sidhu’s appointment however would settle for any determination that the management takes, the sources mentioned.
Sidhu has been essential of Amarinder Singh after the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket in April quashed a probe into the 2015 Kotkapura firing case. Sidhu had questioned the alleged “deliberate delay” in making certain justice and had accused Amarinder of evading duty within the 2015 sacrilege case.
On Friday, Amarinder Singh wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi. He’s learnt to have mentioned that giving the submit of state occasion president to Sidhu, a Jat Sikh, would upset senior leaders representing the Hindu group and hurt the Congress’ prospects within the 2022 meeting elections.
Suspense has been build up over the much-awaited announcement from the occasion excessive command on the decision of the festering feud within the Punjab Congress. In case the occasion chooses to nominate Sidhu as PPCC chief, there shall be two Jat Sikhs in key posts. Whereas Amarinder Singh can be a Jat Sikh, Jakhar is a Hindu.
There may be additionally speak of appointing two working presidents-a Dalit and a Hindu face — to steadiness caste equations.
Manish Tewari has batted for a Hindu face for the PCC chief’s submit whereas giving particulars of the composition of the state’s inhabitants. “Punjab is each progressive and secular however balancing social curiosity teams is vital. Equality is the inspiration of social justice!” he mentioned within the tweet, whereas giving particulars of Punjab’s demography. Sikhs, he mentioned, represent 57.75 per cent of the inhabitants, whereas Hindus and Dalits represent 38.49 and 31.94 per cent respectively.
Rawat had maintained that the central management is figuring out a peace method the place each leaders may work collectively to assist the occasion win the Punjab Meeting polls subsequent yr.
The Congress had arrange a three-member panel, headed by chief of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, to resolve the infighting within the Punjab unit. Each Sidhu and Amarinder Singh had additionally met the panel. The rival leaders have usually aired their variations in public and made statements in opposition to one another.
(With PTI inputs)
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