Cong in talks with CPI, not Sidhu

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

The Congress has started discussions with the Communist Party of India (CPI) for a potential pre-poll tie-up, even as the party today reiterated that it was not involved in talks with Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Awaaz-e-Punjab.

“The CPI’s state leadership approached us through our Punjab leaders. We have formed a committee to see if this matter can be taken forward,” Congress incharge for Punjab Asha Kumari told The Tribune. She said the party would similarly confirm talks with others, including Sidhu, as and when it happened.

Rejecting reports of the Congress engaging Sidhu with the offer of the Deputy CM’s post and 13 seats, Asha said, “We are not talking to Sidhu nor has he approached us.”

The committee set up by the party comprises AICC secretary (Punjab) Harish Choudhry, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and MLA Lal Singh. The CPI’s vote share in the 2012 Assembly poll was nearly 1 per cent.

The panel was formed after Hardev Arshi, secretary general, CPI’s Punjab unit, got in touch with state Congress leaders, expressing willingness to hold talks about a pre-poll arrangement. The CPM has so far ruled out a similar pact despite Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh urging CPM secretary general Sitaram Yechury to consider a truck to prevent the division of “secular votes”.

On Sidhu, Amarinder said the talk about the Congress offering him the Deputy CM’s post and 13 seats was “ridiculous”. “These are wild speculations. A national party won’t discuss seat-sharing with a bunch of individuals who cannot even win their own seats. Among the five Awaaz-e-Punjab members, Sidhu, his wife, Pargat Singh and the junior Bains brother (Simarjit) cannot win their own Assembly seats. Should the Congress negotiate with losers? We have said again and again we are not talking to Sidhu,” Amarinder told The Tribune.

He is scheduled to meet Rahul here tomorrow to discuss the latter’s plans to tour Punjab.