Last Update: April 03, 2023, 7:29 pm IST
Navjot Singh Sidhu is Jain since May 2022. (file photo)
Neither Waring nor the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the state assembly, Pratap Bajwa, was present when Sidhu came out of jail. Both claimed that prior engagements were the reason for not coming.
A lot has changed in the political spectrum of Punjab in the last ten months, a time that Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu spent behind bars. The cricketer-turned-politician, serving a sentence in a 1988 road rage case, was released from Punjab’s Patiala jail on Saturday evening.
The Supreme Court sentenced him to one year’s rigorous imprisonment. As soon as he came out of his cell, the state Congress noticed his absence.
When the former PCC chief met the parents of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Musewala on Monday, none of the important party leaders were in town.
Speculations are rife as to what role will be assigned to him after coming out of jail. His meeting with some politicians in jail, including former finance minister Manpreet Badal a few months ago, has raised further doubts about his status.
And a lot has changed. Apart from Manpreet Badal crossing over to the BJP along with some senior Congress leaders, the Congress leadership seems to have solidified with the incumbents running the party in the state.
The leadership is headed by a much younger Amarinder Singh Raja Waring, and the roadmap for the party’s 2024 battle in the state has been drawn up.
Neither Waring nor the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the state assembly, Pratap Bajwa, was present when Sidhu came out of jail. Both claimed that prior engagements were the reason for not coming.
In fact, barring a few trusted allies of Sidhu in the Congress, the top leadership decided to stay away.
“Sidhu’s role as PCC chief had come under the scanner because of last year’s assembly results. He created a controversy which created confusion among the party workers. The party has held a lot of talks and at the moment it does not appear that they will be assigned any significant role to make people like Waring and Bajwa uncomfortable,” a senior leader told News18.
According to sources, instead of his role in state politics, the high command may use Sidhu more for state elections in other states.
The party high command is planning to rope in its firebrand leader against the BJP, he said. Karnataka assembly elections. He is a crowd puller and his engagement will inevitably be related to campaigning in other states,” said a leader.
Hope to meet Sidhu Rahul Gandhi And Priyanka Gandhi and her role in the grand old party are likely to be on the agenda in Delhi in a few days.
The party hopes that Sidhu will remain vigilant as the bypoll to the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency is round the corner. “The party cannot tolerate any controversy arising out of his statement. And it seems the high command has told Sidhu,” said a leader.
After his release from jail, Sidhu attacked the AAP government at the Center and Punjab for avoiding any controversial statement.
PPCC chief Raja Waring, on record, avoided any controversy by saying that he was looking forward to meeting Sidhu. “He will be a part of the Political Affairs Committee along with other senior leaders,” he added.
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