Maverick Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, on Wednesday, met former party chief Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the national capital. The meetings are being perceived as holding great import for the longstanding feud between him and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
The meetings happened just a day after, in an unexpected turn of events, Rahul Gandhi denied there was any meeting scheduled with Sidhu even as the latter had left from his Patiala residence in the morning for Delhi, for the purpose, according to his office, of meeting Rahul and Priyanka.
Sidhu ultimately met Rahul at the latter's Tughlaq Lane residence on Wednesday evening. The meeting lasted close to 90 minutes. Earlier in the day, he had met Priyanka and tweeted a photo from that meeting, with a caption that said it was a 'long meeting'.
Sidhu's meetings with the Gandhis serve as a message to his political rivals, especially Amarinder. It is likely that the cricketer-turned-politician's future role in state politics was discussed even as he is said to be upset over being sidelined by Amarinder. From Sidhu's point of view, the meetings convey the impression that the Gandhi siblings value him.
While Sidhu is learnt to be keen on being appointed the state Congress president, Amarinder is said to be unwilling to give him a high-profile role either in the government or the party.
Sidhu is known to have direct access to the Gandhis, and is believed to have their backing. They are keen that he should have a role in the party's mainstream and value his utility as a force multiplier in elections.
The meetings are an evidence of the Gandhis' direct intervention to bring quiet to the troubled Punjab Congress.
Amongst the options before the party with regard to Sidhu's rehabilitation is appointing him as deputy chief minister. But neither he nor Amarinder are said to be agreeable to his option. Another proposal is to appoint him as chief of the party's campaign committee for the upcoming elections.
However, what is proving to be a huge difficulty for the central leadership is the feedback it has received from state leaders that it is impossible for Amarinder and Sidhu to work together.
How Amarinder views the meetings is also significant, since they convey the impression that the Gandhis are taking sides in the fight between the two Sardars from Patiala. The apparent sympathising with Sidhu's cause could infuriate and alienate the chief minister who has to lead the party into the assembly elections.
The Congress is expected to announce changes in Punjab Congress by July 10 based on a report on the situation in the state unit, submitted by a three-member panel headed by leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and comprising AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Rawat and senior leader J.P. Aggarwal.
It is uncertain whether the aspirations of Sidhu will be met, although Rawat has said, quoting Sidhu, that he will abide by the decision of the party high command.
