Amarinder meets 3-member AICC panel set up to end factionalism in Punjab

NEW DELHI: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday met a three-member AICC panel set up to end factionalism and strengthen the party in the state ahead of next year's assembly elections and discussed the progress made on poll promises.

Singh met the panel's chairman Mallikarjun Kharge at his Parliament House office of the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Rawat and former MP J P Aggarwal, who are the other members of the panel, were also present during the over three-hour meeting.

Singh is learnt to have discussed how to strengthen the party in Punjab and present a united Congress ahead of the assembly polls.

Sources said the panel also worked out a schedule for fulfilling the remaining poll promises made in Punjab and discussed the plan with the chief minister.

The panel has been entrusted with the task of readying the Congress for the next year's assembly elections in Punjab.

Singh is also learnt to have discussed the latest public utterances made by his former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is at loggerheads with him.

This is the second occasion in recent times that Singh has met the panel.

He had earlier met its members at the AICC headquarters, before submission of the panel report.

Meanwhile, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is also learnt to have stepped in and is meeting some key leaders of the Congress from Punjab, including some sitting MPs, legislators and ministers.

Gandhi will be meeting some other leaders from Punjab on Wednesday, including PCC chief Sunil Jakhar.

Kharge has also said that all issues will be resolved amicably and the Congress will fight next year's assembly polls under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

The panel members have taken note of Sidhu's recent interviews and have expressed "displeasure" over his outbursts.

They are of the view that all party matters should be discussed in the party forum and not in public.

Rawat is learnt to have apprised the party leadership about the recent outbursts of Sidhu, the sources said.

The panel was formed to resolve issues of factionalism in the Punjab Congress and present a united face of the party.

Among the issues pending include revamping the party and cabinet, besides rehabilitation of former Punjab minister Sidhu.

Sidhu, who is eyeing the PCC chief post, is not willing to join Singh's cabinet again, which he quit it in 2019 following differences with the chief minister after his portfolio was changed.

The panel in its report to party chief Sonia Gandhi has suggested that elections should be held under the charge of Singh and Sidhu may be suitably accommodated.

Meanwhile, chief minister Amarinder Singh also met senior party leader Ambika Soni at her residence here.

Soni has been unwell for some time.