Kapil Sibal to skip Congress Shivir after leading battle against sedition law

While eminent lawyer Kapil Sibal led from the front the legal battle against the Sedition law in the SC, the Congressman in him appeared set to give the party's upcoming Udaipur Chintan Shivir a miss. Sibal, a leading voice of the Congress change-seekers, figured in the AICC's list of 400-odd select invitees in his capacity as the Rajya Sabha MP (he is due to retire in July) and as an ex-Union minister. He hasn't confirmed his participation yet, it is learnt.

While ET could not contact Sibal, an AICC functionary admitted that Sibal was yet to confirm his presence at the meet. It is, however, a matter of public knowledge that Sibal - always affirming himself as "a committed Congressman" - has been upfront that for Congress' revival nothing short of leadership overhaul and functional reforms are a must.

While Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and spokesman Randeep Surjewala, hailed the SC verdict, they remained officially mum on Sibal's role in leading the legal battle. There was a time when the AICC used to showcase Sibal at its official briefings when he famously led many high-profile legal battles, including the one to impeach the then CJI.

Notwithstanding the chill in chemistry, Sibal took up many cases, including anti-CAA, Right to Privacy, Maratha quota and against Jahangirpuri demolition, that challenged BJP/Modi government's policies and politics. One of his latest legal ventures is to try and save Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren from his 'mine-field' of trouble with EC and BJP.