Navjot Sidhu called to Delhi to discuss party matters

Chandigarh, October 12

In an apparent bid to quell speculations about the Congress likely to accept the resignation of Navjot Singh Sidhu as Pradesh Congress Committee chief, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has called the cricketer-turned-politician to Delhi on October 14 for discussion on organisational matters pertaining to the state party unit.

Sharing the information on Twitter this evening, Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat said Sidhu would be meeting Venugopal and him for a discussion on Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee organisational matters at the former’s office in New Delhi. The meeting comes ahead of the CWC meeting on October 16.

Sources said the party brass, upset over Sidhu’s sudden move to resign, is likely to tell him to concentrate on forming and strengthening the state body unit.

Sidhu has been called after AICC observer Harish Chaudhary, who had been camping in Chandigarh, recently submitted his report on the Punjab Congress crisis to top party leaders in Delhi.

Sidhu had announced his resignation as PPCC chief on Twitter on September 28 over supposed differences with Punjab CM Charanjit Channi on the appointments of Advocate General and DGP and the reinduction of certain ministers.

Till now, there has been no word from the party leadership about the fate of his resignation.

Only yesterday Rawat on being asked about Sidhu’s resignation said: “What resignation? We have not seen any resignation. We have only read about it in newspapers.”

Recently, Sidhu was at the forefront in Lakhimpur Kheri, demanding action against Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish. “The leadership also wants to listen to his grievances. The issues being raised by him are relevant, but the timing and manner in which they’re raised have not only caused embarrassment to the leadership but have also given an opportunity to his detractors to question his appointment as the state party chief,” said a senior leader privy to the development.

It is learnt that a strong lobby in the Punjab Congress wants Sidhu’s resignation to be accepted. The party leadership, however, wants to retain him as after dethroning Capt Amarinder as CM any adverse move on Sidhu could damage the party prospects. — TNS

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