Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 30
Punjab Congress lawmaker Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday arrived at the Sujan Singh Park residence of AICC general Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to discuss his role in the Punjab unit ahead of 2022 elections.
The meeting ended but Sidhu tweeted a picture with Priyanka 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 where she was still with Sidhu.
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 Gandhis are learnt to be making a final offer to placate Sidhu who has been hoping for a plum role in the state Congress and has said he was no showpiece to be displayed only in campaigns.
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 ЁЯЩПЁЯП╝ pic.twitter.com/Wd4FYXFrhr
тАФ Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) June 30, 2021
Also read: ‘No meeting with Sidhu’, says Rahul hours after former Punjab minister leaves Patiala for Delhi
Navjot Sidhu meets Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi
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