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In what’s being seen as an indication of thaw between Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his former Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu, the previous has invited the latter over a luncheon assembly on Wednesday.
The luncheon assembly comes after nearly three-month-long efforts of Congress common secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat to bridge the gulf between the warring duo.
While all eyes are on the luncheon assembly, media advisor Raveen Thukral said that the assembly will focus on nationwide and state politics. He tweeted: “Punjab CM @capt_amarinder has invited Navjot Singh Sidhu for lunch tomorrow (Nov 25). He & @sherryontopp are expected to discuss state & national politics over the luncheon meeting.”
Sources near the CM mentioned that the assembly will happen on the CM’s farm home close to Chandigarh. The authorities in addition to the get together is tightlipped about what all will transpire within the assembly however sources mentioned the assembly may result in Sidhu’s return within the Cabinet.
However, sources near the CM mentioned, “Tomorrow’s lunch is about ‘breaking bread to break ice’. There is nothing more to the meeting. It is too early to say anything. But the CM is firm that if Sidhu is willing to be reinducted into the Cabinet, he will not be handed Local Bodies Department.”
The CM had divested Sidhu of the Local Bodies Department after the Lok Sabha election final yr. The CM had blamed Sidhu for Congress faring comparatively poorly in city areas calling him a non-performer. The CM had handed him the Power Department however Sidhu had refused to hitch the workplace. He had later resigned. Sources near Sidhu additionally say that he too wouldn’t budge from his stand until the get together discovered an “honourable” option to deliver him again within the Cabinet.
The Cabinet has a emptiness that was not crammed by the CM ever since Sidhu stop. The guidelines enable 18 ministers within the Cabinet, together with the CM, in an Assembly of 117 MLAs. Currently, there are 17 ministers, together with the CM, within the Cabinet.
Captain and Sidhu have been warming up
As sources in Congress point out that common secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was working actively to make sure that Sidhu was accommodated within the authorities or within the get together and never pushed to the fringes regardless of groundswell of help, each Sidhu and Amarinder had been in unison for a minimum of final one month. While Sidhu’s presence throughout former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi’s three-day go to to Punjab for his present in help of farmers, had turned out to be a fiasco, Sidhu seconded Amarinder’s decision negating the Centre’s farm legal guidelines throughout final Vidhan Sabha session in October-end. It was learnt that Amarinder had himself known as up Sidhu, asking him to second the decision.
Later, throughout Punjab Congress’s dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Sidhu was the second final speaker earlier than the CM and praised the CM for his stand in favour of the farmers.
Rawat has additionally been taking note of Sidhu. He personally went to his home and accompanied him to Rahul’s rally at Moga. Rawat’s “over-attention” to Sidhu has, nevertheless, not been happening nicely with Amarinder. Soon after Rahul left Punjab, Amarinder , in an interview to a TV channel, reiterated that Sidhu was most welcome to rejoin the Cabinet as an influence minister however he couldn’t be made the PPCC chief as there have been a number of dyed-in-wool Congressmen in Punjab, who deserved the put up.
Rawat has, nevertheless, known as Sidhu a “Rafale” and get together’s weapon for the subsequent election. He had mentioned that he would bridge the hole between each the CM and Sidhu. The CM-Sidhu meet on Wednesday is actually step one. The end result of the assembly, nevertheless, will probably be awaited.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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