Rahul Gandhi meets Punjab ministers as AICC panel raises poll promises with Capt Amarinder : The Tribune India

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New Delhi, June 22

The Congress on Tuesday held a series of deliberations to attempt a speedy resolution of the Punjab unit crisis with Rahul Gandhi giving an audience to state leaders for the second straight day and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh meeting the AICC panel on Punjab.

The panel headed by Mallikarjun Kharge is learnt to have discussed with the CM the progress made on the delivery of poll promises contained in the party manifesto for Punjab.

Wasn’t called: Sidhu

Congress leader Navjot Sidhu has denied being called for a joint meeting with CM Capt Amarinder Singh before the three-member Kharge panel on Tuesday.

The scope of the panel, which also has AICC general secretary Harish Rawat and ex-MP JP Agarwal, has been expanded to include discussions on Congress' preparations for the 2022 Assembly elections and measures required to be taken to ensure win.

The CM is learnt to have shared with the panel actions taken by his government on major issues of the state, including the sacrilege matter.

After the meeting, Kharge said everyone in the party was united and would fight the elections together. “The panel is discussing how to put the best foot forward for the 2022 elections and what preparations are needed to be made, how to unite and face the election. Discussions are underway. Everything will be okay,” he said.

Downplaying the ongoing friction between the CM and former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Kharge said, “All I have to say is that everyone will fight elections together under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.”

Rahul Gandhi met several state leaders, but the meeting with Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar was postponed till tomorrow.

Gandhi has reportedly invited six cabinet ministers (Sukhjinder Randhawa, Sukh Sarkaria, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Razia Sultana, Charanjit Chani and Bharat Bhushan Ashu) and MLAs Sangat Singh Gilzian, Raja Warring, Pargat Singh, Kikki Dhillon, Tarsem Singh and Inderbir Bolaria for meetings. The former Congress chief met the leaders, including Tript Bajwa and Pargat Singh, among others.

Sources said the state leaders pressed for early resolution of the issues adding that the delay was hurting the party.

Capt meets Ambika

After meeting the AICC panel in the Lok Sabha chamber of Kharge, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh called on veteran Ambika Soni at her residence. The meeting was described as “personal”.