Ina first show of solidarity after his name was announced as the state partychief, Punjab Congress unit President Navjot Singh Sidhu, accompanying 62legislators, comprising many state Cabinet ministers, on Wednesday paidobeisance at the Golden Temple, here.
However,Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who is upset with Sidhu over his purportedremarks against his government over the power crisis and the sacrilege issue,and his close confidants, were conspicuously absent from Sidhu's maiden visitto his constituency and religious places in the city after assuming the chargeas the state chief.
However,past state President Sunil Jakhar was accompanying cricketer-turned politicianSidhu. Sidhuwill assume the new charge on Friday.
Afterpaying obeisance at the Golden Temple, Sidhu and the legislators will bevisiting the Durgiana Mandir and Ram Tirath Sthal, both prominent Hindu sites.
Earlierin the day, the 62 Congress MLAs gathered at Sidhu's residence here and reachedthe Golden Temple complex in two chartered luxury buses.
Onreaching the Golden Temple, they were given a warm welcome by the partyfunctionaries.
TheMLAs present included Raja Warring, Raaj Kumar Verka, Inderbir Bolaria,Barinder Dhillon, Madan Lal Jalapuri, Harminder Gill, Harjot Kamal, HarminderJassi, Joginder Pal and Pargat Singh. TheCabinet ministers included Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Charanjit Channi andTript Rajinder Singh Bajwa.
Theparty high command has also appointed four legislators Sangat Singh Gilzian,Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Kuljit Singh Nagra and Pawan Goel as working presidentsof the party. Theywere accompanying the party chief during his visit.
Tougheninghis stance, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday clarified that he won'tmeet Sidhu till he publicly apologised to him.
"Reportsof @sherryontop seeking time to meet @capt_amarinder are totally false,"Chief Minister's media advisor Raveen Thukral said in a tweet.
"Notime has been sought whatsoever. No change in stance...CM won't meet#NavjotSinghSidhu till he publicly apologises for his personally derogatorysocial media attacks against him," he added.
AlsoCabinet minister Brahm Mohindra welcomed the appointment of Sidhu as the newstate unit chief but ruled out a personal meeting with him till he resolves hisissues with the Chief Minister.
Ina statement, Mohindra on Tuesday said the decision to appoint Sidhu had beentaken by the high command and is welcome.
"However,I will not meet him (Sidhu) till he meets the Chief Minister and resolves hisissues with him," said Mohindra, adding that Amarinder Singh is the leaderof the Congress Legislative Party and he is duty bound to follow him.
Anadamant Amarinder Singh, who is reportedly upset with Sidhu for targeting hisgovernment over the power crisis and the sacrilege issue, had categoricallytold state party in-charge Harish Rawat on July 17, a day before Sidhu'sappointment, that there would be no rapprochement between the two until Sidhuapologises in public for his "derogatory tweets and interviews".