New Delhi: The three-member AICC (All India Congress Committee) panel, set up by the party high command to look into the grievances of dissident Punjab MLAs, has invited them again for discussions in New Delhi, dissident group sources said.

"Some of the dissident MLAs led by Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal would be reaching here tonight (Dec 26, 2003) for discussions with the committee comprising Dr Manmohan Singh, Mohsina Kidwai and Ahmed Patel," sources told reporters over phone from Chandigarh.

To defuse the crisis in the Punjab CLP (Congress Legislature Party), the party high command was toying with the idea of offering deputy chief ministership to Bhattal, but sources said the dissidents had at a luncheon meeting yesterday rejected the idea and were adamant on their demand for removal of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Confirming that only the dissidents had been invited for discussions by the AICC committee, the Chief Minister's group sources said "whatever the party high command decides, would be acceptable to us".