Switching allegiance shows his 'selfish mindset': BJP on Navjot Sidhu

According to reports, Sidhu might join AAP in Punjab

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday took a dig at former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to quit and said that the decision displays his 'selfish mindset' which is against the party principles.

"By constantly switching allegiance it shows your selfish mindset and at a time when we believe that party first, individual last and Nation first is something that we abide by," BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI.

She further hit back at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his remark that honest and good people are suffocating under its top leadership and said that unlike Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP is a disciplined and democratic party which holds the nation in high regard.

"Arvind Kejriwal can poach all he wants but do understand, ours is a disciplined political party, a democratic party if there is an issue we have every right to speak to the national president," she said.

Shaina NC's statement comes a day after Kejriwal tweeted "Honest n gud people are feeling extremely suffocated within BJP due to dictatorial attitude of its top leadership," after Sidhu resigned from the upper house stating that his nomination was a mere burden.

According to reports, Sidhu might join the AAP in Punjab. The former cricketer, who was thrice the Lok Sabha member from the BJP, was asked to step away from contesting the polls in Amritsar during the 2014 general election to make way for fellow member Arun Jaitley.

Meanwhile, Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur had clarified that she still remains with the BJP.

Sources said Navjot Kaur was abstaining from joining the AAP before August perhaps to avert bypoll in her constituency before the scheduled assembly elections, because her joining the AAP will lead to her disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law.

The AAP Constitution too doesn't allow two members of a family to hold any office within the party, including the elected post, sources added.

AAP, meanwhile, refuted that Sidhu would be projected as the their chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, adding that he would be actively campaigning for party candidates in the elections.

Sidhu's campaign may help AAP increase its tally as he has been attacking the incumbent Akali government openly.

There is also "possibility of a revolt in the AAP, if the party projects a chief ministerial candidate" before the Punjab polls, they said.

Meanwhile, the party is set to release its first list of around 30 candidates for the Punjab elections by the end of July.