Efforts on to broker truce between Capt Amarinder Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu

Chandigarh, July 19

A day after Navjot Singh Sidhu’s elevation as the PCC chief amid his ongoing standoff with Capt Amarinder Singh, the party high command is closely monitoring the situation as efforts are reportedly on to bring truce between the two leaders.

There is anxiety among party leaders as the leadership wants truce before the new PCC chief goes to the PCC office in Chandigarh to take over his new assignment. Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat is learnt to be touch with Punjab leaders, seeking softening of stand by both sides.

Sources said though the Chief Minister is yet to speak his mind on meeting Sidhu, leaders close to him want him to bury the hatchet. “But the nuances of the compromise formula have to be worked out. There is a difference of opinion on who takes the first step, Sidhu or the CM. Otherwise, the two leaders would be seen pulling apart,” said a senior leader.

Sidhu’s announcement was made last night after the party leadership sensed trouble as there were efforts to scuttle a meeting of MLAs called by outgoing PCC president Sunil Jakhar on passing a resolution stating that the decision taken by the party president would be acceptable to all.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have talked to party MPs, after a meeting held at Partap Singh Bajwa’s Delhi residence to discuss Punjab Congress issues.

Amid tension, Sidhu presence on the ground got louder with him meeting nearly 60 party MLAs. Sidhu visited the house of outgoing PCC chief Sunil Jakhar, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Speaker Rana KP Singh, Ministers Razia Sultana, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Punjab Youth Congress president Barinder Dhillon, besides other MLAs.

On the other hand, the CM tweeted pictures of a number of party MLAs calling on him at his residence. Besides, the CM chaired a meeting of some MLAs and two ministers — Brahm Mohindra and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot — to review development works in Patiala, as the media adviser to CM denied reports of the CM inviting MPs and MLAs for lunch of July 21. — TNS

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