Sidhu Meets Sonia in Delhi Amid Reports of Him Being Next Punjab Congress Chief

After the meeting concluded, Harish Rawat told the media that Sonia Gandhi's decision will be announced soon.

Navjot Singh Sidhu.

(Photo: PTI)

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday, 16 July, arrived at 10, Janpath, to meet the party's Interim President Sonia Gandhi amid a tussle within the party's Punjab unit.

Congress General-Secretary in-charge of Punjab Harish Rawat was also present at the venue.

After the meeting concluded, Rawat told the media that a decision will be announced soon.

"I have submitted my note. I believe Congress president will take her time and come to a decision soon," Rawat said on Firday, as per ANI.

"As soon as I get to know about her decision regarding Punjab Congress, I will let you (media) all know," he added.

Sidhu to Be Next Punjab Congress Chief?

The meeting comes a day after reports said that Sidhu is likely to be appointed as the chief of the party's Punjab unit.

According to several media reports doing the rounds, Sidhu will replace Sunil Jakhar and a formal announcement on this is expected soon.

However, late on Thursday, NDTV quoted sources as saying that Punjab CM Amarinder Singh is 'unhappy' with Sidhu's elevation. On Friday, Rawat, however, on being asked if CM Amarinder was unhappy with 'some decision' told ANI, "If there is any communication gap, I am here to take care of it."

Stressing that Singh and Sidhu will work together and that a formula has been made around the same, Rawat had said on Thursday, "Captain Amarinder Singh has been our CM for the last four and a half year and we shall go to the elections under his leadership."

Rawat was also quoted by ANI, as saying, on Friday:

"The sense of security that people of Punjab demand is given by Congress only. People praise Captain Amarinder Singh for peace in the state. People don't want to experiment. Whenever they sided with Akalis, disorder ensued."

Sidhu's meeting with Sonia Gandhi comes just days after he met Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi. Following this, another meeting between Singh and Sonia Gandhi took place.

Ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, Rahul Gandhi and several other senior Congress leaders have been meeting party leaders from Punjab to review the political situation in the state.