CHANDIGARH: In a surprise political development in Punjab, two political enemies former PPCC president and now Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today met each other at latters's farm house in Siswan.
The pictures of meeting were shared by Raveen Thukral media advisor of Chief Minister. Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Rana KP Singh and Sports minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi both staunch supporter of Capt Amarinder Singh are also seen in the picture.
The meeting is important in wake of likely appointment of Navjot Singh Sidhu as PPCC president. AICC has taken the decision to hand over command of Pufnjab Congress to Sidhu despite opposition by Capt Amarinder Singh. Bajwa who was also in race for PPCC top post and see himself as future Chief Minister may also not accpet Sidhu's appointment. It is learnt that Capt Amarinder Singh had also secretely met Bajwa at the begining of this month probably to counter Sidhu.
Bajwa is a vocal critic of Capt Amarinder Singh and raised voice against non-fulfillment of promsies made by Congress during 2017 assembly elections. Bajwa was PPCC president before 2017 when he was replaced by Capt Amarinder Singh. Both had locked horns on various issues including holding CBI inquiry into drug mafias. Bajwa had approached Punjab and Haryana High Court for CBI probe and Capt Amarinder had opposed the move.
The appointment of Sidhu would mean end of political career of both Capt Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa. If party goes for assembly poll under the command of Sidhu, Bajwa and Capt Amarinder Singh would not be able to claim post of Chief Minister. If wins, Sidhu would be front runner for CM post.
Sidhu was cabinet minister in Punjab when he questioned leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh during an election rally by declining accept him as his captain. He then quipped." My Captain is Rahul Gandhi". It was turning point in the relationsship between Sidhu and Captain. When opportunity came, Captain changed the portfolio of Sidhu from Local bodies to power. It enraged Sidhu and he resigned from cabinet. Sidhu was keen to ebcome Deputy Chief Minister but Captain opposed it.
After that many attempts were made by party high command to bring the two leaders together and pacify them. Harish Rawat AICC general secretary incharge of Punjab had also arranged meeting between Sidhu and Capt Amarinder Singh bit in vain. Captain ahd reportedly offered Sidhu to join cabinet and get department of his choice. Sidhu however didnt respond. He made series of tweets challenging Capt Amarinder Singh on illegal mining and drug mafia.
It is this background that Capt Amarinder Singh ahs laid a condition of apology from Sidhu before meeting him.