In a surprise move, BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from Rajya Sabha on 18 July amid rising speculation that he could join Aam Aadmi Party. The resignation of 52-year-old Sidhu, who was nominated on 22 April, has been accepted by Chairman Hamid Ansari with immediate effect.
While he was not available for comments, there is talk of Sidhu joining the AAP ahead of Punjab Assembly elections and he may be made the party’s face in the state. Sidhu did not answer calls made to him. Sources close to Sidhu were tight-lipped about the future move of the cricketer-turned-politician.
Gurdeep Sappal, OSD to the RS Chairman confirmed the resignation in a tweet.
Sources said that Sidhu has been miffed with the party over the treatment meted out to him ever since he was made to make way for Arun Jaitley in Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Sidhu called working for the BJP a “burden” and added:
His wife Navjot Kaur, who is Chief Parliamentary Secretary in Punjab where BJP shares power with Akali Dal, had created a flutter on 1 April by announcing her resignation from the BJP.
Both Sidhu and his wife share an uneasy relationship with the Akali leadership. With speculation rife over the issue, the AAP said in Chandigarh that it would welcome Sidhu with open arms if he joins the party.
According to reports, Sidhu is likely to head AAP’s election campaign in Punjab’s upcoming polls.
(With inputs from PTI)
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