NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Navjot Singh Sidhu is likely to continue as Punjab Congress chief. Some of the concerns that led to his resignation might have been addressed as the former cricketer said on Thursday that he has full faith in the Gandhis and their decision will be supreme.
During a meeting at the party headquarters with Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and Punjab in-charge Harsh Rawat, Sidhu was told that he should work to strengthen the party. After the meeting which lasted over an hour, Sidhu is learnt to have said that he would abide by the party’s decision.
Venugopal said a final decision on the matter is expected by Friday, after clearance from Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi.
Sources said Sidhu would be asked to continue as Punjab Congress president and issues flagged by him would be addressed following discussions with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Sidhu is expected to meet the Gandhis on Friday.
This was Sidhu’s first meeting with the central leadership after he quit as Punjab Congress president on September 28 over differences with Channi on the appointment of DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota and Advocate General APS Deol. There were other differences between the two as well.
“I have placed my concerns before the party high command. I have always considered the Gandhis supreme. I have full faith in Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former president Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. They will take a decision in favour of Punjab and the state Congress. I will always follow their orders. Their decision will be supreme for me,” Sidhu said after the meeting.
Calling discussions with Sidhu positive, Rawat said, “Sidhu clearly said that the decision of the Gandhis would be acceptable to him and he would follow it. The party’s orders to Sidhu are clear. He has been asked to work as Punjab Congress president, set up the organisation structure and strengthen it.” Sources said Sindhu was also told that he should express his concerns at the party forum through the proper channel and not in ways not approved by the party.