Deal with Sidhu failed as Kejriwal wants to become Punjab CM: BJP

Sidhu formally launched a new political party 'Awaaz-e-Punjab', which will contest the Punjab Assembly elections next year

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not strike a deal with Navjot Singh Sidhu as the AAP chief himself wanted to take over the coveted post in Punjab.

BJP leader RP Singh said, "One thing is clear that Kejriwal ji wants to become Punjab Chief Minister. He will never take anyone in the party, who can be portrayed as the chief ministerial candidate. That is why the sting against Such Singh happened. Navjot Singh Sidhu is a name in Punjab, so it's obvious for him to have aspirations to be the CM candidate," he said.

Sidhu on Thursday formally launched a new political party 'Awaaz-e-Punjab', which will contest the Punjab Assembly elections next year.

Former Indian hockey skipper and legislator from the Jalandhar (East) constituency Pargat Singh, who was suspended by the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and two Independent legislators Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains, popularly known as Bains brothers, are other prominent leaders of the newly-launched front in Punjab.

The launch of the new front came after a flip-flop, with Sidhu, who was earlier tipped to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but his bargain for the party's chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming Punjab assembly polls fell apart, after AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal purportedly refused to accept his demand, and reportedly also denied a party ticket to the former cricketer's wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, citing the norms established by the party's constitution that prohibits tickets to two persons of a family.

Taking a dig at the BJP-SAD government in Punjab, Sidhu said, "A government should be for the people, but in Punjab it is all about one family (the Badals). The people of the state say the 'black clouds' (Badals) should pave way to the bright sun."

He further said, "Kejriwalji tweeted about the meeting with me, but he said half truth. Let me complete it: Kejriwalji told me 'don't fight elections and ask your wife to contest, we will make her a minister'. I said 'Sat Shri Akal'; you (Kejriwal) only want 'Yes Men'.