All out to catch Sidhu. Keeps everyone guessing

Keeping his cards close to his chest, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Navjot Singh Sidhu has not given any statement to the media  in India on questions on whether he was joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or not. However, his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu has been interacting with media in Amritsar.

As per reports, Navjot Sidhu was spotted in Mumbai, the cricketer-turned-politician was pursued by reporters in a bid to get a confirmation on claims made by some AAP leaders that he was joining the party ranks and may be appointed the chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls.

Sidhu was specifically asked if he was joining the AAP, but he chose to just smile and wave at the cameras and refused to utter anything. Sidhu resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Monday amid speculations that he was joining the AAP and would be the party’s face in Punjab. On Tuesday, his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who is a Parliamentary Secretary in the BJP-SAD government in Punjab, clarified that while her husband had quit the BJP, she was still a member of the party. She also praised the AAP and accused the BJP-SAD alliance of failing to fulfill pre-poll promises.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt. Amarinder Singh has said former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu was welcome to the Congress if he desired so. “Congress’ doors are open for everyone,” he told media in Chandigarh.

However, Capt Amarinder clarified that there was no communication between him and Sidhu on the matter.

Commenting on Navjot Sidhu, who recently resigned from the Rajya Sabha, Former Hockey Captain Pargat Singh who was suspended from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday said Sidhu had been a batsman and he a defender; it would be good if the qualities of both of them combined. He began his press conference with a minute’s silence for Mohammad Shahid, the 1980 Olympics gold medallist, who passed away a day earlier. Terming SAD as a party of sycophants and agents, Pargat Singh said Sukhbir Badal thinks he is a superhuman. The MLA had objected to setting up of a solid waste management plant in his constituency. “The solid waste management plant which was proposed in my constituency was logically, legally, technically and environmentally not right and people of my area were against it,” Pargat Singh said.

“I will talk on my joining when appropriate time comes. Let the time come. In due course of time, I will reveal each and every thing,” said Pargat when asked about possibility of joining AAP.

In a video post on his Facebook page, AAP manifesto committee chairman Kanwar Sandhu said the inclusion of the former cricketer and his wife, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, would strengthen the party, but AAP would have to ensure that their presence does not demoralize its cadres. “Both of them have remained part of the BJP, which does not at all match with the ideology of AAP. They have not only been batting for BJP, but have also been criticizing Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. They will have to mold themselves in the ideology of AAP. Apart from giving roles to the Sidhu couple according to their capability, AAP would have to ensure that their inclusion does not demoralize its cadres,” he said. “The Sidhu couple’s inclusion can give strength to AAP. But, apprehensions being expressed by some quarters can’t be ignored.”

In the past, Sidhu has often ridiculed the politics practised by AAP and also made remarks on its supremo, Kejriwal. Following the AAP’s first tenure in Delhi, he had especially made fun of the party’s leader during election rallies in Delhi. It is yet to be seen whether Sidhu decides to join the Kejriwal-led party.