Sidhu jolts BJP amidst
talk of joining AAP
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PTI
New Delhi
In a jolt to BJP in Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday resigned from Rajya Sabha, only about three months after his nomination by the government, as speculation raged that he could join Aam Aadmi Party and be its face in the Assembly polls next year.
The resignation of 52-year-old Sidhu, who was nominated on April 22, has been accepted by Chairman Hamid Ansari with immediate effect, the House was informed on Monday.
While he was not available for comments, there is talk of Sidhu joining the AAP ahead of the state elections and may be made the party's face in the state. Sidhu did not answer calls made to him.
Top AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Lok Sabha member Bhagwant Singh Mann welcomed Sidhu's decision to resign from Rajya Sabha but parried questions whether he would join the party and become its CM face.
In a brief statement on his resignation, Sidhu did not reveal much about his future plans but there were indications that he was miffed with the state of affairs in his party.
"Today Sardar Navjot Sidhu has resigned from RS. At the behest of the honourable PM, I had accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination for the welfare of Punjab. With the closure of every window leading to Punjab the purpose stands defeated. It is now a mere burden. I prefer not to carry it."
“In the war of right or wrong, you can't afford to be neutral rather than being self-centered. Punjab's interest is paramount,” said the 52-year-old former cricketer-turned politician, who had represented Amritsar in the Lok Sabha between 2004 and 2014.
Sources said that Sidhu has been miffed with the party ever since he made way for Arun Jaitley in Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
His wife, Navjot Kaur, who is Chief Parliamentary Secretary in Punjab where BJP shares power with Akali Dal, had created a flutter on April 1 (April Fool's day) announcing her resignation from the BJP.
“The burden is over,” she had written on her Facebook post on April 1, but after a meeting with top BJP leaders in Delhi, she said, “All is well” and she is very much a part of BJP in Punjab.
Both Sidhu and his wife share an uneasy relationship with the Akali leadership and have made open attacks on Akali Dal and its leadership on governance issues.
With speculation rife over the issue, the AAP said in Chandigarh that it would welcome Sidhu with open arms if he joins the party.
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AAP welcomes Sidhu's move to quit RS, opens its doors
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party on Monday welcomed BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to quit from Rajya Sabha and opened its doors to the cricketer-turned-politician to join its ranks, signalling an imminent churning ahead of next year's Punjab Assembly polls.
Within minutes of Sidhu's resignation, AAP's Punjab convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur and AAP state in-charge Sanjay Singh hailed Sidhu's “courageous” decision and said the party was “looking forward” to welcome him.
AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai said Sidhu would be making an “announcement” soon, adding that the party is open to the joining of individuals who believe in honest politics.
“Navjot Singh Sidhu is most welcomed to join @AamAadmiParty @sherryontopp @AAPPunjab2017. Appreciate Navjot Sidhu and Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu Move, looking forward for their Welcome to @AAPPunjab2017 @AamAadmiParty @DrDrnavjotsidhu (sic),” Chhotepur tweeted.
Asked if Sidhu could be made AAP's chief ministerial candidate in case he decides to take the plunge, AAP's Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann said, “Whoever joins AAP, he is clearly told that it has to be unconditional.” Sidhu, a former Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar, was convicted in a culpable homicide case in Patiala and is out on bail.
Singh, a member of AAP's highest decision-making body Political Affairs Committee, tweeted, “Navjot Singh Sidhu has taken a courageous step by resigning as a BJP member from the Rajya Sabha. I welcome his decision.” Sidhu's decision came on a day when AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is touring Punjab as part of the party's intense push to capture power in the northern state by defeating the incumbent SAD-BJP alliance and Congress in a triangular contest.
