With Punjab Assembly elections approaching, state political parties are changing their attitude day by day. Months after calling Congress state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu “Rakhi Sawant”, Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha today praised the Congress leader for voicing his objection on the appointment of “compromised officials.”
Backing Navjot Sidhu, Mr Chadha who recently arrived in Punjab’s Amritsar said “Only Sidhu knows his future plans but he’s raising the right issues.”
This is not the first time opposition has sided with Sidhu in criticism of the Channi government. Earlier, AAP president Arvind Kejriwal had also bestowed support for the Congress leader
and urged CM Charanjit Channi to remove the “tainted officials” from his government.
The AAP’s volatile stand over Punjab issues remains of significance as the party has not named its CM candidate yet. On the other hand, Navjot Singh Sidhu has given a final ultimatum
to Congress saying ‘party can choose between the compromised officers and him.’
With these, experts speculate a major development in the state’s political spectrum.
Will Sidhu join AAP?
Nothing could be said about this for the time being. However, Navjot Sidhu joining the AAP would not be surprising at all.
Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP's convener, visited Punjab in September. Then Kejriwal was asked if Navjot Singh Sidhu would join the Aam Aadmi Party. Arvind Kejriwal responded by saying that
this is a hypothetical question.
“When the time is right, we'll talk.” The possibility, however, was not ruled out by Kejriwal.
Also Read: Punjab CM has a solution for Punjabis’ issues, likely to take a big decision
Sidhu, too, had previously shared videos of Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Twitter. AAP leaders like Bhagwant Mann and Sanjay Singh were seen in the video praising Sidhu's Punjab agenda.
Even though Sidhu had tweeted this video criticising Bhagwant Mann, it was clear that his and AAP's political ideology is similar.
For Sidhu, elevation to CM’s post remains uncertain in Congress
Sidhu's elevation to Chief Minister's post is uncertain in Congress. The Congress high command has stated that Sidhu and CM Channi will lead the party in the next election.
Sidhu, on the other hand, has shown his displeasure for not being named as CM. On multiple occasions, including Punjab Congress' Lakhimpur Kheri convoy, Sidhu lashed out at party leadership
for appointing Charanjit Channi as the Chief Minister.
Sidhu reiterated his claim that he has no administrative authority at a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday. Charanjit Channi has been named CM Congress high command, and I have no
role in this, said Sidhu.
After Captain Amarinder Singh was deposed, Sidhu desired to be named the next Chief Minister.
Channi vs Sidhu
Navot Sidhu has been constantly attacking CM Charanjit Singh Channi over the appointment of several ministers and other officials in his government. Just a day after Channi announced his cabinet of ministers, Sidhu resigned from his post of Punjab Congress head demanding the dismissal of a minister and two government officials.
The dispute continues to date. The appointment of advocate general APS Deol and DGP Sahota has been the main reason behind infighting.
Meanwhile, Channi too has retaliated to Sidhu’s criticism by rejecting APS Deol’s resignation. By doing so, Channi has given a firm message to Sidhu that CM is the head of state, not ministers/MLAs.