AMRITSAR: What is stopping cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu from actively rejoining the Congress party despite meeting Punjab CM Amarinder Singh nearly two weeks ago, to sort out the differences?
One of Sidhu’s loyalist told TOI the stalemate was on the position Sidhu would hold in the party ahead of assembly elections in Punjab.
“Since Congress party’s central command is weak, so it can’t dictate terms to Amarinder which is causing the delay," said the source.
The source also refused to rule out the possibility of Sidhu exploring the possibilitiy of a political future with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
AAP is desperately looking for a face in the state and is carrying out negotiations with politicians of other parties.
“One of our earlier survey confirmed that Congress would be making the government in Punjab but now it is Congress, AAP, and SAD (B) which are ahead in Doaba, Malwa, and Majha regions of Punjab respectively. The state is heading for a hung assembly, this is of more concern to Congress leadership than the Sidhu factor” said sources.
Senior political science professor Kuldeep Singh said “Captain was favourabily inclined to induct Sidhu primarily because assembly elections are approaching but at the same time Congress party’s Central high command is not in a position to dictate its term to Amarinder since they at their weakest moment."
Singh further said Amarinder was negotiating with Sidhu on his own terms.
He also discounted the possibility of Sidhu joining AAP. “Sidhu is an overrated politician, in my opinion, he should think twice before he shakes hands with AAP because he had already left BJP to join Congress, leaving Congress to join AAP would leave a clout on Sidhu’s political carrier” he said.
Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of Sidhu negotiating with the party to enhance his bargaining within Congress. “May be it is a bargaining tactic to extract a desirable ministry, “ said the source.