With former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu formally joining the Congress, and becoming its candidate in Amritsar, the grand old party has boldly positioned itself as the principal Opposition to the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. Sidhu had earlier announced a new front, Awaaz-e-Punjab, which fizzled out soon after. The Congress is not without its factional headaches and irritations, and various party leaders can still be relied upon to display their capacity for internal sabotage.
Those who have followed Sidhu's 15-year-long international cricket career, will not be surprised with his political power play and desire to re-invent himself. After his international debut in 1983, Sidhu was dubbed as a ‘strokeless wonder’ by the media. However, now, we believe, that his decision to jump from one party to another might hurt his popularity. Whether he is batting on the right pitch or not, Sidhu is now surely playing the game on his own terms. All in all, Punjab is in for an exciting finish.