As Lok Sabha elections are around the corner, Punjab’s power corridors are buzzing with the talks of Navjot Singh Sidhu’s ghar wapsi to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also some reports suggesting that the BJP is also considering to field another former cricketer, Yuvraj Singh from the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency.
This development came at a time when the rift within the Punjab unit of Congress is out in the open once again with growing calls for disciplinary action against cricketer-turn-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu for openly flouting the party’s directives by holding his own rallies.
Many media reports quoting sources suggest that Navjot Singh Sidhu with three other Congress MLAs from Punjab, are looking to switch allegiances by next week.
Former Punjab Congress Chief, who is known to have close ties with senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, recently had a face-off with the current party leadership in the state, speaking the rumours about him switching sides.
On being ask about Navjot Singh Sidhu’s individual rallies, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said :
“Nobody is above the party. Whoever wants to do something can do without Congress’s symbol and platform and warn his predecessor that indiscipline will attract expulsion from the party.”
Under these circumstances, BJP leaders in the Majha region feel Navjot Singh Sidhu might rejoin his parent party and could potentially become a Lok Sabha candidate from the state, as per report.
As per reports, BJP can field Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is known for his oratory skills, from Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency, which has the BJP’s stronghold traditionally.
Congress has dismiss the possibility of Navjot Singh Sidhu joining the BJP.
If Navjot Singh Sidhu, who left BJP in 2017 to join Congress, returns, he will join the long list of Congress exiting the party recently, including, Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Former Union Minister, Milind Deora and Former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddiqui.
New ‘Yuvraj’ of Gurdaspur
As per rumours the BJP is planning to field former cricketer Yuvraj Singh from Gurdaspur, replacing the incumbent party MLA Sunny Deol.
According to Somdev Sharma, speculation gains traction after Yuvraj Singh and his mother Shabnam Singh’s recent meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The BJP has a history of parachuting celebrity candidates from its stronghold Gurdaspur, which include actor Vinod Khanna and Sunny Deol.
