Former CM of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, is expected to visit the national capital by Tuesday evening. After his arrival, the Punjab Congress veteran is scheduled to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda.
The suggested Singh-Shah-Nadda meeting has provoked strong speculations about Capt Amarinder Singh joining the BJP in the following days. Zee Media sources said that Singh might be drafted into PM Modi’s Council of Ministers as Union Agriculture Minister.
It has also developed that BJPs’ central authority may help Captain Amarinder Singh garner a different political outfit if he declines to join BJP. In this way, Singh would be prompted to join the BJP-led NDA alliance. However, these are just speculations, and nothing has been confirmed yet.
It should be noted that several senior BJP and NDA leaders, Anil Vij and RPI’s Ramdas Athawalem, had summoned Singh to become a part of BJP or the alliance. “Not only, Amarinder Singh, but all nationalist forces in Punjab should join hands “to defeat the gameplan of the Congress”, Haryana Minister Vij had said.
Capt Amarinder Singh had quit as the CM of Punjab following months of tensions between him and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Talking to the press soon after resigning, Amarinder Singh stated he felt “humiliated” at how the Congress high command treated him. He said the Congress wouldn’t win double digits seats if it contests the upcoming elections under his leadership.
Captain Amarinder Singh even described Navjot Singh Sidhu as “incompetent” and “anti-national”. When asked if he would recommend Sidhu as his replacement, Amarinder Singh had then opposed such a proposal “tooth and nail”.
Answering a question about joining BJP, Captain Singh said, “I will consult with my supporters and decide the future course of action.” Singh continued that he is still a member of Congress. These developments arrive just four months ahead of the assembly elections in Punjab. Charanjit Singh Channi was later appointed as the new CM of Punjab by the Congress central leadership.