Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu is not out. Batting for him, Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma on Friday made it clear that he is the best player the Saffron party has for representing Amritsar constituency in not-so-friendly Parliamentary cup.
Kamal Sharma, at the same time, also clarified that Sidhu was “not unhappy” with the party and had no plans to quit the same. He also maintained that Amritsar MP is in touch with the party’s national president Rajnath Singh.
“Sidhu is our best candidate for Amritsar seat. He is a valued member of the BJP family, and would remain with the party….He is not at all unhappy with the party, and he is not going to quit the BJP,” said Kamal Sharma.
“The party is like a family and not like army. Sidhu is busy with his profession and as soon as he is free, he will be back. Also, he is in touch with Rajnath Singh,” he added.
The assertions by the State party chief assumes significance as three-time Amritsar MP has been “absent” from Punjab political field and also from his lok Sabha constituency since past nine months or so.
The repeated public outbursts by his wife, BJP MlA from Amritsar East constituency, Navjot Kaur Sidhu alleging “sidelining” and “ignoring” him had given indications of Sidhu retiring hurt from the politics to concentrate of his professional career on television.
What is more, his absence from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Madhopur rally, and also from party’s State executive chaired by BJP national president Rajnath Singh are enough to corroborate his wife’s indications.
But, at the same time, the party leadership has since long been maintaining that Sidhu would be the only choice for the Amritsar constituency.
Reiterating his stand on party’s lone MP from Punjab, Kamal Sharma on Friday minced no words to say that Sidhu is still the “favourite candidate” for Amritsar.
Defending Sidhu’s long act of disappearance from State political pitch and his constituency, BJP State chief said that Amritsar MP opted for honouring his “professional commitments”.
“He has some professional commitments. He will soon return in the party’s political activities. He has been busy with cricket commentary assignments and some television shows…every man has his profession and he has chosen his career. He has his own priorities,” said Kamal Sharma.
Sidhu was conspicuous by his absence from Modi’s Sankalp Rally after his elevation as chairman party’s lok Sabha Campaign Committee chief on June 23 in Pathankot district.
This is not all! Taking on a bit too much after his prolonged absence, Sidhu also opted to stay away from two-day state executive meeting in his home constituency convened by the BJP national president on July 7 and 8. All together, he continued to make appearances on the small screen.
But that was for a reason, said Kamal Sharma. “Sidhu could not attend Sankalp Rally as he was abroad and busy with commentary assignment for the final of the ICC Champions trophy at london on the same day. He had signed a contract for that, and had already conveyed his inability to be back in the country for the rally,” he said.
“At the time of the State executive meeting also, he had intimated well in advance that he would not be able to attend the same considering that he was under contract with a television channel and he would be honouring that,” added Sharma.
“There are no issues which needed to be resolved between Sidhu and the State party unit. He had been the MP on BJP ticket from Amritsar thrice, and his services will be utilised by the party as soon he is available,” said Sharma.
Considered close to previous BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, Sidhu was counted out of Rajnath’s team of BJP national executive - expected to be one of the reason for his “disillusionment” from the party and politics. Sidhu was Secretary in BJP national executive during Singh’s predecessor’s tenure.
Responding to Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s allegations that her phones were being tapped, Sharma said that it was the Congress which was in the habit of tapping phones.
On whether party is considering disciplinary action against her for airing her views in public, Sharma said, “I have spoken to her regarding her frequent desire to go to the press and she had promised to take care of this in future. In case there are any issues, it would be resolved at the party level only.”