Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns from Rajya Sabha amid AAP buzz

Mangalore Today News Network

Amritsar, Jul 18, 2016: Cricketer-turned-BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Monday at a time speculations were rife that he might join the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of next year’s Punjab election.

 

Sidhu, a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar, was elected to the Upper House in April. While he was not available for comment, his staff in Amritsar confirmed the news of his resignation.

A sulking Sidhu, who was not fielded as a candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, has so far refused the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) repeated attempts to pacify him.

He has appeared reluctant to take up any significant campaign role.

The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine is staring at perceived anti-incumbency accumulated during the past ten years of its rule in the northern state. Delhi’s ruling AAP is trying to make a foray into the state, ramping up its campaign efforts.

Sidhu’s move came on the day AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal visited the Golden Temple, a famous Sikh shrine. A section of the state BJP believes Sidhu, a prominent face in Punjab politics, is in touch with AAP leaders.

His legislator wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, triggered a buzz earlier this year by advocating a split with the SAD ahead of the election. She also made noises about being sidelined due to their alleged sour equation with the SAD.