The Congress, after months of turmoil in its Punjab unit, finally named Navjot Singh Sidhu as the state Congress chief and also picked four working presidents. The move is meant to stem the infighting in the state unit that manifested itself in public duels between Chief  Minister Amarinder Singh, 79, and Sidhu, 57.

That Singh is not happy with Sidhu’s elevation as Punjab Congress chief is no secret. But, has the mess been sorted out? Is the Congress fighting-fit for the upcoming assembly elections? The answer is not ‘yes’. Analysts say the fight that was so far being fought on social media and public platforms will only move behind the curtains but will continue. Now is the time for shadow-boxing, they say. That the battlelines have grown deeper can be gauged from statements and posturing by the two factions.

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In a meeting, 10 MLAs issued a joint statement supporting Singh. In a warning to Sidhu, the MLAs said Sidhu is a celebrity and no doubt an asset to the party, but condemning and criticising his own party and government in the public view has only created a rift in the cadres and weakened it. Some MPs also spoke in Singh’s favour.

Here are some issues that the Congress and its leadership could face in the poll-bound state:

* The issue from being a Singh vs Sidhu fight seems to now become a Sidhu vs the old guard. Pratap Singh Bajwa, a long-time critic of the Captain, called on the Chief minister and presided over a meeting of MPs that expressed support for Singh. There seems to be a re-alignment happening in the State Congress.

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* Singh, who is 79 and two-time CM, may not have much to lose but a whole bunch of senior leaders with political aspirations — including Pratap Singh Bajwa ( Ex PCC chief), Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Vijay Inder Singhla (all ministers), Manish Tewari, Shamshi Singh Dullo (MPs)–  may not take very kindly to Sidhu’s elevation.

*Sidhu, a celebrity and a star orator, is not a grassroots politician. It will be interesting to note how he will keep the party together. His role as a PCC chief is crucial in the run-up to the elections.

* Analysts also feel that Singh, who humbled the Badals, is in a very strong position to deliver the state to the Congress. But, how Sidhu’s elevation plays out with his supporters and what kind of message the Captain conveys to them, will hold the key.

* Analysts also say that Sidhu may not stop at the PCC post and it was just a matter of time that Sidhu would start eyeing the CM post.