Navjot Singh Sidhu: Star campaigner or CM candidate of AAP?
CHANDIGARH: Even as it is being widely speculated that cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu could join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as its chief ministerial face in Punjab, there is widespread feeling among party leaders that he would instead be the national star campaigner of the party. However, the big question remains whether Sidhu will be ready to join on these terms, and he is yet to speak out his mind.
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s statement on Tuesday suggesting that Sidhu becoming the face of AAP in Punjab would be premature, also added weight to the speculation that he may be made the star campaigner. Sources said with AAP having its eyes set on the 2019 general elections, and given Sidhu’s pan-India appeal, he may not contest the Punjab assembly elections due in 2017. However, this would give a chance to his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu to fight on an AAP ticket, if she too parts ways with the BJP in the days to come.
“Sidhu will be the national star campaigner for AAP, as he has always been a crowd-puller for BJP. However, projecting him as the CM face will not just ruffle many feathers in the party, but also as per the AAP constitution, the couple cannot contest the assembly elections together,” said an AAP leader. Considering this fact, Navjot Sidhu will be inducted with the condition that he will not be projected as the party’s CM face, added sources.
“AAP will get three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi in 2018, and Sidhu can definitely be accommodated there. Besides, since he wants to contribute to the state of Punjab, Sidhu will get ample opportunity to do so by campaigning for the AAP in the forthcoming elections. The talk of Sidhu being made the CM was all speculation, trig gered soon after his resignation,” said another AAP leader.
Even though other senior party leaders seen as contenders for the CM’s post, like Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann and the party’s state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur have been towing the party line in welcoming the possible induction of Sidhu, it is being considered a given that Sidhu’s sudden entry may not go down well with them. “None of the leaders has made any such claims, and there is no question of any bad blood. The issue of CM face is yet to be taken up by the party,” said a leader.
The party had recently decided to take a call on the CM face after the list of its candidates for Punjab are out. This means the announcement will be made somewhere close to elections by the year-end. “Sidhu is definitely a crowd-puller and has an edge in being an urban face who can add loads of wit and sarcasm to make his point. He will give immense boost to the party’s campaign in the state. However, projecting him at the very outset will give the rivals a chance to start targeting him. Videos of Sidhu criticizing AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal in the past are already going viral on the social media,” he added.
When asked about Sidhu becoming the CM face in Punjab, Kejriwal had said in Delhi that there was nothing of that sort. “Aisa kuch nahi hai (there is nothing of that kind). He has just resigned from the Rajya Sabha seat and I think all good people should resign from the BJP. I admire his courage,” he said.
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