Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu formally announced a new political front ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ on Thursday.
Sidhu slammed Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal at the press conference in Chandigarh, saying that he can only work with people who agree with him.
You (Arvind Kejriwal) only want yes men.Navjot Singh Sidhu
Kejriwal is an anarchy in the garb of democracy, said Sidhu as he claimed that the AAP chief had only tweeted “half the truth” about their meeting.
Attacking Kejriwal, Sidhu said that the Delhi Chief Minister had asked him not to contest in the Punjab elections, and instead offered to contest his wife and make her the minister.
Citing “resurrection, redemption and revival of Punjab” as Awaaz-e-Punjab’s main aim, Sidhu said:
At this stage ‘Awaaz e Punjab’ is not a party, it’s a forum. We will take 15 days and then get back to you with our decision and more details.
On the topic of his resignation from Rajya Sabha, Sidhu said that his decision had nothing to do with “Kejriwal ji”.
The former Rajya Sabha member had on 2 September floated the new political front online. It will contest the Punjab assembly elections, slated for early next year.
Other members of the new front include former Indian hockey team captain and legislator of Punjab’s ruling Shiromani Akali Dal Pargat Singh, and two independent legislators, Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains.
“A press conference will be addressed by Sidhu on Thursday along with Pargat Singh and Bains brothers,” Simarjeet Bains said on Wednesday.
Pargat Singh was last month suspended from the Akali Dal for “anti-party” activities.
Sidhu had resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 18 July, fuelling speculation that he may join the AAP.
The Bains brothers, who had fallen out with the Akali Dal top leadership three years ago, have significant influence in Ludhiana district.
Elections to 117 assembly seats are likely to be held in January or early February next year.
(Published in an arrangement with IANS.)
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