Post Shah-Sukhbir meet, speculations of Sidhu couple joining AAP go stronger
Thursday, 11/02/2016
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=149939&boxid=58579&uid=&dat=2016-02-11
Chandigarh : With national leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday decided to remain together in Punjab, the speculations of former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and his Amritsar MLA wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s joining Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have gone intense now.
While Navjot Kaur Sidhu has already dropped significant hints of Sidhu couple’s possible move to join the AAP, the noted sarcastic comedian Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi who on Wednesday joined AAP also signaled that the BJP’s firebrand couple could hold AAP’s broom in days ahead.
After joining the AAP, Ghuggi stated that he would invite Navjot Singh Sidhu to join AAP.
“If Sidhuji takes some sound decisions it will benefit the state of Punjab. We will invite Sidhuji in AAP and wish him to lead us as he is our senior,” added Ghuggi, who has long professional association with Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Earlier about a fortnight back, strongly advocating the break-up of the SAD-BJP alliance before the 2017 assembly elections, chief parliamentary secretary and BJP MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu had said if the alliance continued till the Assembly polls, then people must vote for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Since she gave the statement, not only the commoners but the BJP leaders of Punjab too had started predicting that Sidhu couple could go in AAP at any moment and interestingly the wait to hear the final word is still going on.
The CPS, a strong critic of the SAD had even announced that she would not contest the 2017 polls if the alliance continued. “People will no more vote for the SAD-BJP alliance in the 2017 polls. The best option is the BJP going alone, but if the alliance continues, people must vote for the AAP,” the CPS had said, adding that, “The Congress is nowhere in the picture. So why not opt for the party that is coming up with a new vision and more youth?”
However, undermining all speculations, the AAP leaders including Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann and Sucha Singh Chhotepur had categorically denied having any formal talk with Sidhu couple on the issue. But now on Wednesday, the way Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi expressed his desire to take his professional colleague aboard that too in the presence of AAP’s senior leadership it triggered the fresh round of speculations with the force higher than ever. It’s pertinent to mention that BJP leadership, being aware of party’s Sikh face Navjot Singh Sidhu’s command over words and his acceptability in masses for being a former cricketer and TV artist doesn’t want him to go away.
Some saffron party leaders, while sharing the things with Daily Post, also mentioned that the central leadership had made two offers for Sidhu-membership in Rajya Sabha and chairman campaign committee but he was adamant over his demand of BJP snapping ties with the Akali Dal, which could not be accepted
Meanwhile, a section of BJP hopes that the central leadership of the party will soon create a platform for Sidhu to iron out his differences with the Akali leadership as the party understands it well that in the current circumstances when the AAP is expanding its base in Punjab and the Congress has given command in the hands of ‘charismatic’ former CM Captain Amarinder Singh, the SAD-BJP alliance will have to put much force if it wants to beat the anti-incumbency wave. “And for the mission, the allies will have to show a united face,” opined a senior BJP leader.
