Signs of Sidhu’s elevation, bid to get Capt on board

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh/new Delhi, July 16

Amidst the imbroglio over a new PPCC chief, AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Rawat will be arriving in Chandigarh on Saturday for a meeting with CM Capt Amarinder Singh on the PPCC and Cabinet revamp. Earlier scheduled for Friday, the meeting was cancelled after party president Sonia Gandhi called Rawat and MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu to Delhi.

• Also read: Congress mulls Hindu face at poll panel helm 

Ahead of Sidhu’s meeting with Sonia, Narinder Bhambri, OSD to the Punjab CM, was seen at 10 Janpath reportedly carrying a note by Capt Amarinder Singh expressing apprehension over the likely appointment of Sidhu, a Jat Sikh, to the PPCC chief’s post, arguing that it could have an adverse impact on party’s poll prospects. There was no official confirmation by the CMO. Rawat, who was present at the meeting along with party leader Rahul Gandhi, said no final decision on the PPCC reorganisation had been made and Sonia Gandhi was yet to take the final call.

Speaking to Rawat on the phone, Captain reportedly complained about the meeting that dissident ministers and MLAs held at the residence of minister Sukhjinder Randhawa where Sidhu too was present. Party sources said several MLAs had urged the high command to hold a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting so that there was no confusion regarding their stand.

Meanwhile, a message in media groups sent by an office-bearer of the Punjab Youth Congress, saying celebrations were to be held at the Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh on Sidhu’s ‘elevation’, created quite a flutter. A similar message was flashed regarding a function at Amritsar. But sources close to Sidhu said they were not aware of any such messages. A fake letter on the AICC letterhead declaring Sidhu as the new PPCC chief raised many an eyebrow.