With a surprise sweep on the political pitch, former BJP MP and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu announced that he will in fact not be floating a new party to contest the upcoming Punjab Assembly election. He insisted that he doesn’t wish to play “spoilsport” by dividing anti-incumbency votes.
Less than a month ago, Sidhu had announced the launch of Awaaz-e-Punjab, but now he seems to have decided against forming a political party, though he said they were open to “alliance” for the betterment of Punjab.
The forum welcomes any alliance for the betterment of Punjab and will not be a political party. May Punjab, Punjabiyat and every Punjabi win.
Sidhu said his forum didn’t want to confuse people with too many options and divide the vote.
I have pondered over the fluid political situation in Punjab, weighed the pros and cons and come to a conclusive decision. We won’t divide the anti-incumbency vote bank which could indirectly benefit the corroborative and collusive Badal-Amarinder nexus which has plundered Punjab in the last 15 years.
Former AAP Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur expressed shock over Sidhu’s decision and said his search for good people for Punjab’s betterment will continue.
On being asked whether he will float a political party, Chhotepur said “we don’t have the resources to do so at present.”
Sidhu, along with MLA Pargat Singh and Ludhiana MLAs Simarjit Bains and Balwinder Bains, had recently announced the launch of the forum after a public fall-out with the BJP, which he formally quit on 14 September.
The last two months have seen several ups and downs and uncertainties in Sidhu’s political career. While there was speculation that Sidhu would join AAP, he surprised onlookers by announcing the launch of Awaaz-e-Punjab.
With Wednesday’s announcement, Sidhu seems to have delivered yet another reverse sweep.
(With inputs from PTI)
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