Ever since the cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu gave up his Rajya Sabha membership, the former MP is making all other political parties struggle by bowling one googly after another. Beginning his new inning, Sidhu started batting for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which his wife, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, described as “the only option available”.
Affected by the bouncers from AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal who did not want Sidhu to contest polls, the former Amritsar MP decided to build up his own team, and floated Awaaz-e-Punjab along with Olympian Pargat Singh, Balwinder Bains and Simarjeet Bains — making bumpy pitch for the other political players in the state, including the Congress, SAD-BJP combine and the AAP.
Playing a reverse sweep, Sidhu once again surprised everyone by announcing his party’s decision not to contest 2017 polls on its own, while at the same time, calling upon like-minded parties and individuals to come together.
Simarjeet Bains, independent MlA, made it clear that they would contest the polls, while evidently hinting at possibility of joining hands with the Congress, but with a rider.
Congress, which is making every possible effort to hold the victory flag post 2017 polls, has thrown open its doors for the Awaaz-e-Punjab, which pointed that they would join hands with the grand-old-party but sans Capt Amarinder Singh, the state party chief, and it would be an alliance and not merger.
On the other hand, Capt Amarinder had time and again made it clear that all, including Sidhus, are welcome to join the party “unconditionally”.
Sources within the party have told The Pioneer that both sides are making every possible effort to strike the deal. It has been learnt that the Congress has offered Sidhu Amritsar seat in case the Congress forms the government in the state and the seat was vacated by the sitting MP Capt Amarinder Singh.
Besides, it has also offered to books ministerial berths for a few of its members. Congress is firm on its stand of merger with the Awaaz-e-Punjab as it apprehended that if the new front managed to bag some seats, it may move away from the Congress in case of alliance.
However, the sources maintained that the deal may soon strike and he announcement of the same would be made by the next week.