New Delhi: The Punjab crisis took a fresh turn on Wednesday with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi telling Navjot Singh Sidhu that the "party is supreme" and issues could be ironed out through talks, while former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met Union Home minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi.
The meeting that lasted for around 45 minutes came amid indications that Singh may be seeking the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sources said the former Punjab Chief Minister is learnt to have discussed the farmers' issues, besides the internal security situation in Punjab with Shah.
Amarinder's media advisor tweeted after the meeting: "'Met Union Home Minister @AmitShah in Delhi. Discussed the prolonged farmers' agitation against #FarmLaws & urged him to resolve the crisis urgently with repeal of the laws & guarantee MSP, besides supporting Punjab in crop diversification': @capt_amarinder."
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi speaking to Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday to convey that issues could be ironed out through talks. "Nothing has been done intentionally. If anybody has objection on any appointment, then I am not rigid on that… I don't have ego tussles… I told him party is supreme, let's talk," Channi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting. Sources said that half a dozen Punjab Congress MLAs and some local party leaders reached Sidhu's house late Tuesday evening. After his exit, Punjab Cabinet minister Razia Sultana resigned in solidarity with him, along with party general secretary Yoginder Dhingra. Sources claim that Sidhu's resignation has not been accepted yet, and that the Congress high-command is in touch with him.
According to insiders, the party is still hoping that Sidhu would review his decision.
"The party would wait for a few days for Sidhu's comeback. If Sidhu doesn't withdraw his resignation, the party would go for the appointment of a new party president in consultation with former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh," the party insiders said, adding that it may either consider appointing Sunil Jakhar or Kuljit Singh Nagra as the new head of the party in Punjab.
"Given the Assembly elections early next year, the party would not take any step that may dent its fortunes," the party leader said. In response to Singh's meeting with Amit Shah and other key functionaries of the BJP, the Congress leader said: "The former CM is meeting them in his personal capacity. Meeting someone in BJP does not conclude that Singh would leave his own party. So, just wait and watch for a few more days. Everything will be clear."
Amarinder Singh has been alleging that instability in Punjab may give Pakistan a handle to create disturbance in the border state. He has also accused Sidhu of being "close to (Pakistani Prime Minister) Imran Khan" and alleged that he is "dangerous" for the border state.
Singh arrived in the national Capital on Tuesday, days after he quit as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
The sources said the veteran Congress leader may also meet some of the "Group of 23" leaders, including Kapil Sibal and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Singh's meeting with Shah assumes significance as the Congress leader had not opened his cards and had claimed that he had not quit politics and would fight till the end.
He had also launched a scathing attack on his bete noire, Sidhu, who was appointed as the president of the Punjab unit of the Congress.
Sidhu quit as the Punjab Congress chief on Tuesday.
As regards his political future, Singh had said there were several options before him.