Congress General secretary in charge of Punjab Harish Rawat on Tuesday met Rahul Gandhi and announced that "good news would be coming for Punjab Congress in 3-4 days" suggesting that the party was ready to make a final stab at settling the infighting that has roiled the state for several weeks. Rawat's remark came in the backdrop of intense negotiations by Navot Sidhy for the post of state president, a move that is strongly opposed by CM Amarinder Singh. Sources said Sidhu is the forontrunner for the post of state president. Even as events were playing out, political strategist Prashant Kishor, who is advisor to the Punjab CM, met Rahul Gandhi. Rawat said that Kishor-Rahul meeting was not about Punjab, adding that "many people meet Rajul with their views while Rahul too takes inputs from different individuals". Report said Kishor met Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra andSonia Gandhi about 2024 polls and the planning ahead, like the opposition front. Rawat's meeting with Rahul wassaid to have included AICC general secretary Priyanka GAndhi Vadra who has taken keen interest in Punjab affairs besides emerging as a backer of Sidhu. Congress claimed Sidhu had only uploaded a 2017 video of AAP leader Bhagwant Mann praising him, in response to Mann's challenge. Mann twetted that political donations from power purchase agreements in the state were not cancelled by the Amarinder Singh government, and challenged Sidhu to tweet about them. Given the muddied political waters in Punjab and Sidhu's aggressive lobbying during the last two months in which he has alsosecured the backing of Priyanka, there is suddenly a buzz that Sidhu may have his wish fulfilled. Party sources said if Sidhu's wish was to be accpeted, then CM Singh will have to be on board so that he does not throw a fit. A possible way out in that situation would be that Sidhu appointed the PCC chief with three working presidents from Hindu communities, while the CM is upfront declared as the party mascot for the the 2022 polls. All energies should now be focused on strengthening our infrastructure/human resource to minimise the impact of the imminent third wave of pandemic.
