Criticism, anti-Sidhu posters, long absence from his constituency, complaining voters’, repeated public outbursts by his MlA wife not withstanding, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Punjab unit president Kamal Sharma is still batting for its Amritsar Member of Parliament (MP) Navjot Singh Sidhu.
“I would still say that Sidhu is our best candidate for Amritsar seat,” Sharma told The Pioneer, in no uncertain terms.
Sharma defended the senior party leader, and assailed the Congress for indulging in political gimmicks. “Congress has no right to question Sidhu’s absence, as their own Patiala MlA (Capt Amarinder Singh) has been missing from his constituency since long,” said Sharma.
Fending for party’s three-time Amritsar MP, Sharma maintained that the Congress is blowing the issue of Sidhu’s absence out of proportion.
He further asserted that Sidhu has his commitments, and soon after fulfilling that, he would return to active politics.
“It is not the people who are making hue and cry over Sidhu’s absence, but the Congress. They should first introspect, before questioning others,” said Sharma.
Out of action from his constituency since long, the cricketer-turned-politician has been in the storm of controversy for ignoring his constituency and apparently doing nothing for its development despite making many promises.
On the other hand, Sidhu’s wife, the chief parliamentary secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu has been claiming that he was “sidelined” by the party and had decided not to contest the ensuing lok Sabha polls.
Earlier this week, a Congress backed NGO had dotted the entire Amritsar city with anti-Sidhu posters questioning his long absence, and announcing `two lakh reward for anyone giving his whereabouts.
The posters, seen as a direct attack on the “omni-absent” BJP leader, have come up when the parliamentary polls are just about a year away.
In the wake of these posters and Dr Sidhu’s repeated public outbursts, things seem to be going awry for the SAD-BJP combine in Amritsar.
Moreover, the voices of dissident against Sidhu can be heard not only within the party, but also among allies, however, only in whispers.
“Sidhu’s absence is going to cost a lot to the party in the parliamentary elections.
These posters are adding fuel to the already spoiled situation,” a senior BJP leader, on the basis of anonymity, told The Pioneer.