Priyanka plays peacemaker in Sidhu-Amarinder Singh feud over denial of ticket to Navjot Kaur

The Congress has stepped up its effort to resolve the reported differences between Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

According to sources, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is playing a key role in bringing truce as Sidhu – a star campaigner of Congress across the country – has been staying away from campaigning in Punjab. In fact, he has not addressed a single rally in favour of a party candidate in Punjab so far.

On Priyanka’s direction, Sidhu cancelled his today’s rally scheduled in Bihar’s Patna Sahib and accompanied her to Bathinda, where he shared the stage with her and Amarinder Singh.

The development came hours after Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur said that the former will not campaign for his party in his home state as the Chief Minister has told him not to.

Amidst reports that the Minister's health was not allowing him to campaign, his wife also blamed the party's Punjab in-charge Asha Kumari for not allowing Sidhu to campaign in Punjab.

According to reports, Sidhu has been upset with Amarinder Singh over his wife being denied a Lok Sabha ticket either from Chandigarh or Amritsar.

Indian Express quoted sources saying that Sidhu was also upset over being not given time to speak at party’s rally in Moga two months ago. The rally was addressed by AICC president Rahul Gandhi.

However, Priyanka seems to have successfully resolved the issues between Singh and Sidhu as the cricketer-turned-politician clarified at the Bhatinda election rally today that he was returning to Punjab on May 17 to deliver a "knockout punch" to the Badals.

He said he would hold 10 rallies on May 17 if Congress candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring asked him to do so.