Navjot Sidhu’s AAP tweet stokes buzz, Prashant Kishor meets Rahul Gandhi
Manjil Das, INN/Chennai
Twitter-@SGiggle29 @Infodeaofficial
As the Congress’s drama in Punjab continues, rebel Navjot Sidhu’s tweet, apparently in response to AAP’s demand that he speaks about monies allegedly stolen by his party from private companies, has further added to the political commotion in the state.
Among the flurry of activity, Sidhu’s tweet that the AAP “has always recognised my efforts” sparked speculation that it was yet another bare-knuckle attempt by him to persuade the party to approve his desire for the position of state unit leader.
In response to AAP’s query, Sidhu stated, “Our adversary AAP has always recognised my imaginative and prescient and labour for Punjab.” Be it earlier than 2017 when I addressed Beadbi (sacrilege), Medicine, Farmers Issues, Corruption & Energy Disaster confronted by Individuals of Punjab, or now as I current ‘Punjab Mannequin,’ it is obvious they recognise – who is admittedly defending Punjab.” He earlier uploaded videos of AAP leaders congratulating him.
Harish Rawat, the Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab, met with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday and announced that “excellent news can be coming for Punjab Congress in 3-4 days,” implying that the party was able to make a final attempt at resolving the infighting and lobbying that has roiled the election-bound state for weeks.
Rawat’s remark came during heated talks by the cricketer-turned-politician for the position of state president, a move that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh fiercely opposes. Sidhu, according to sources, is the front-runner for the position of state president.
The Kishor-Rahul meeting, however, was not about Punjab, according to Rawat, who added that “many people approach Rahul with their opinions, and Rahul, too, receives inputs from entirely other people.” According to reports, Kishor met with Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sonia Gandhi to discuss the 2024 elections and future plans, exactly like the opposition.
AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has taken a keen interest in Punjab events and has emerged as a supporter of Sidhu, was said to have attended Rawat’s meeting with Rahul.
In response to Mann’s complaint, the Congress said Sidhu had just released a 2017 video of AAP head Bhagwant Mann complimenting him. Mann urged Sidhu to tweet about the ability purchase agreements in the state, claiming that political payments from energy companies to Congress were the reason why they were not revoked by the Amarinder Singh administration.
Given the muddy political waters in Punjab and Sidhu’s relentless lobbying over the past two months, during which he has also gained Priyanka’s support, there is a new buzz that Sidhu could get his wish, which is a far cry from the predictions that the possibility was ruled out till now.
However, according to party insiders, if Sidhu’s request is to be granted, CM Singh must be on board in order for him to avoid throwing a match. A possible way out of this situation is for Sidhu to be named PCC chairman, with three working presidents from Hindu groups, and for the CM to be proclaimed the party’s mascot for the 2022 elections up front.
