NEW DELHI: Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh met Rahul Gandhi for discussions on Friday, his visit to the heir apparent’s Tughlak Road residence seen as reflective of a possible thaw in their strained relations over leadership of the state unit.

Singh was closeted with Rahul for over an hour. The discussion is said to have been about the restructuring of Punjab unit where several factional interests are to be reconciled to hammer out peace. The party is looking at coming out with a “consensus” package.

But the key issue remains who would take the reins of the state organization to which Singh has staked claim. Having sounded an open revolt against PCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa, he even threatened to walk out of the party.

The race for state leadership has narrowed down between the high command’s choice of AICC general secretary Ambika Soni and Singh.

Rahul did not take kindly to Singh’s brinkmanship because Congress lost the 2012 elections under his leadership when the opposition was expected to win owing to ‘pendulum politics’ of Punjab. The party was also defeated in 2007 under his chief ministership.

Besides state leadership, Congress has to decide on the strategy to take on Akali Dal, which is under pressure because of popular dissatisfaction as well as the controversies over farmers’ agitation and the ongoing protests over the desecration of the holy book.

However, Congress leaders feel they have to start on grassroots politics immediately as rival AAP is also trying to gain ground in the state. Any success for AAP would come at the cost of Congress, a fact noticed in Lok Sabha polls where the newbie stood between the Akali decimation and Congress victory.