Brain Stormer: Politics of Hope and Faith?

Former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu is on a new mission to bring ‘politics of hope and faith’ in Punjab. After deserting BJP, there was much speculation that he will join the AAP and will probably be the chief ministerial candidate for the party in the coming Assembly elections. Even after meeting AAP Convenor and the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sidhu kept quiet. Finally he along with two independent legislators, the Bain brothers of Ludhiana-Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains supported by the expelled Akali MLA from Jallandhar are coming with a new political platform called ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ which will be shortly launched. The primary aim of the new political front is to fight all those forces that are ruining Punjab.

Sidhu, a former cricketer cum BJP leader who in the past has simply remained a comedy show host, instead of driving the political career much forward may probably find it too difficult to shake the political rivals. His choice of running a new political forum, may not find many takers. Already his leaving the BJP has created a massive damage to his political fortunes if there was anything left at all. His politics in absentia had even caused the party so much as the voters hardly get any opportunity to meet the live show host for so many years. It must be noted that he could not offer his service to his parent party. Being a leader who is known for his knowledge and performance skills in the stage, he should have rendered the same to the party. But at the same time his misgivings should have been rightly addressed by the BJP in time before he was getting impatient. Surely, if Sidhu fails to sustain the new party, his political career may come to an end. The coming Punjab Assembly polls will be a litmus test for him. It is a do or die battle for the showman. Others who are planning to ride on his back, may not lose much except the immediate election, but Sidhu may end up counting his days in public life. Hope he can create enough hope and faith to stay relevant in politics after the much talked about Punjab poll.