Amid rumours that former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu would soon join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the cricketer-turned-politician needs time to think. The AAP chief further asserted that he had great respect for Sidhu.
In a series of tweets on Friday morning, Kejriwal said the cricketer-turned-politician has not set any pre-condition for joining AAP and that he just asked for “time to think”.
Kejriwal said his respect for Sidhu, who met him last Friday at his residence, will continue irrespective of whether “he joins (AAP) or not”.
“Wud Navjot Sidhu ji join AAP- lot of rumoursIJ Its my duty to put forward our side. We have greatest greatest regard for this ckt legend. He met me last week.
“Didn’t put any pre-condition. He needs time to think. lets respect that. He is a v gud human being n a ckt legend. My respect for him wud continue whether he joins or not,” Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.
The Delhi Chief Minister’s posts follow reports that AAP’s talks with the cricketer-politician have collapsed because he wants to be projected as chief ministerial candidate and is also negotiating a role for his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, currently a BJP MlA in Punjab.
It is noted that when Sidhu resigned last month, AAP had, at that time, made it clear that his joining the party will not be on any terms or conditions. Also, the AAP’s constitution does not permit giving tickets to two members of a family.
On the other hand, Sidhu resigned last month saying he was not involved by the party in coming Punjab elections. Sidhu had joined the Upper House in April 2016, two years after he stepped down from his lok Sabha constituency of Amritsar to allow Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to contest the 2014 lok Sabha elections from that seat.
Earlier, it was reported that both Sidhu and his wife, Navjot Kaur, would join the AAP by August 15. However, no announcement was made by either Sidhu or the party afterwards. While the AAP has not announced any chief ministerial candidates for the elections, it has appointed Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann the chairperson of its campaign committee.
On the other hand, the Congress is also ready to look at Deputy Chief Minister for Sidhu, after two or three years. The party can also offer the Amritsar lok Sabha seat.