Cricketer-turned BJP leader, Navjot Singh Sidhu, has resigned as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha and he is expected to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) soon.
Known for his often repetitive one-liners since he left active cricket in 1999, he wrote in his resignation letter,
“In the war of right or wrong, you can’t afford to be neutral rather than being self-centered. Punjab’s interest is paramount.”
Mr Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur, who is a lawmaker in Punjab, is also set to resign, say sources. She had announced her resignation on Facebook earlier but changed her mind.
Mr Sidhu’s anticipated exit will hit Punjab’s ruling Akali-BJP combine at a time it is seen to be facing a tough task retaining an upper hand in Punjab after two straight terms, challenged both by an aggressive AAP and a resurgent Congress.
A popular television personality known for his wit, Mr Sidhu was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April.
What’s Next?
So what’s the next move? Will the couple stay on with the BJP, a party that sent Sidhu thrice to the Lok Sabha and recently to the Rajya Sabha? Will he jump back into Punjab politics headfirst? Will he be the game changer in the forthcoming assembly polls?
Most importantly, is the Sidhu couple going to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)?
It’s a well-known fact that the couple had been unhappy with the state of affairs, particularly the decision taken during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when Sidhu was forced to vacate his constituency in Amritsar to let BJP heavyweight Arun Jaitley contest from the ‘safe’ seat.
Senior political commentator Baljit Balli told media, “If the bio Sidhus joins AAP, there would be a radical change in the prevailing political scenario in the state. AAP is definitely an option available to Navjot Singh. It remains to be seen how the BJP handles his resignation in the Rajya Sabha.”
His joining AAP would definitely be a shot in the arm for the party that is emerging as a serious contender for electoral victory in the state.