In a major jolt to the BJP, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the Rajya Sabha. There are speculations that he would be declared as Aam Aadmi Party’s chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, where Assembly election is due early next year. A political experts say, Kejriwal should avoid committing mistake of declaring Sidhu as a chief ministerial candidate, let him work for the party and show his willingness and respect towards common people first. The anti-incumbency in the state against SAD-BJP alliance is at its peak. AAP has already started its campaign 18 months before elections; their campaign is really very strategic. They are approaching people door to door which are similar to the strategy followed by them during Delhi assembly polls. Kejriwal knows, how to go steady but sure win. The way they did in Delhi through dialogue and nukkad sabhas touched the hearts of common man, even their top leadership were on roads. They are following the same strategy in Punjab by sabotaging the lavish manner in which political campaigns are conducted. Their craze among people is now visible. AAP has made major inroads in growing its support base in Punjab.
Let’s look at another factor; Kejriwal as an honest leader and a person who really wants development and to connect with people is need of the hour in Punjab. Punjabis are fed up with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance. Badals have lost their reputation in the state. BJP-SAD alliance is at their weakest point now. There is severe disillusionment between the local BJP and SAD leadership. Come elections, we could see BJP splitting away from SAD or the workers not giving their best in the poll preparation. Congress too has fair chance but more than 50 per cent votes would go for AAP and emulate the record in Delhi. However, SAD continues to have a substantial support base with the Akalis, so they are still strong but not liked much by people. Congress would be the primary opponent backed by the popularity of their CM candidate Amarinder Singh.
SAD is already on a weak ground, if AAP eats into their vote share then nobody can stop Congress from coming to power. However, if AAP eats into Congress vote share then you might see a hung assembly. If BJP splits away from SAD then it is Congress for sure irrespective of whose vote share AAP eats up. SAD-BJP is in power from the last nine years. In the last elections, Punjab voted for SAD because Congress was the worst option to choose. So, the party won there was not because of their merits, they took advantage of people’s anger against Congress. Nevertheless, Congress is trying hard to remain in race with Captain Amarinder Singh as CM face. Congress and SAD are two opposite sides of the same coin. People need third dimension to view progressive Punjab.
AAP is the best option if given a chance in Punjab as the government will have full state power, not like Delhi having limited control with full limitations. AAP can work here with a full force. There are enough qualified people in the party to run a government without corruption.
Sidhu won on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from the Amritsar seat in the Indian general elections, 2004. After resigning due to a court case against him, he stood again after the ruling was stayed. He won a by-election with a good majority. In the 2009 general elections, he kept the Amritsar seat defeating Om Prakash Soni of INC by 6858 votes.
Navjot Singh Sidhu took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on April 28, 2016. As per reports, Sidhu was given the Rajya Sabha nomination in a bid to prevent him from joining the Aam Aadmi Party. In a jolt to BJP in Punjab, Navjot resigned from Rajya Sabha, within three months after sworn in as MP. In a brief statement on his resignation, Sidhu did not reveal much about his future plans but there were indications that he was miffed with the state of affairs in his party. Sidhu was unhappy with the party ever since he made way for Arun Jaitley in Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 General election. Now, the big question which arises here is, will Sidhu become AAP’s chief ministerial candidate or will he retire from the politics and will continue judging a comedy show?
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