The BJP must be in a state of shock. In April it nominated Navjot Singh Sidhu to the Rajaya Sabha and in July he quit. The rumour is that he resigned to join the Aam Aadmi Party, probably as its chief ministerial candidate for the Punjab polls. “In the war of right and wrong, you cannot afford to be neutral. Punjab’s interest is paramount,” Sidhu said. Sidhu was miffed with the BJP which made him vacate his Amristar seat for Arun Jaitley in 2014, who failed to retain it. Two years later he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha to pre-empt his move to join AAP, which is making waves in Punjab. There is groundswell of support for Arvind Kejriwal and all AAP needed was a face to lead the campaign. Sidhu, who has represented Amritsar between 2004 and 2014, can now look forward to playing a captain’s role. Many politicians would give their right hand for a seat in the Rajya Sabha. Sidhu gave up his for Punjab. Clearly, he is made of sterner stuff than run-of-the-mill politicians.
