Speculations rife on Sidhu's wife resignation

After the resignation of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu from the Rajya Sabha on Monday, speculations were rife on his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu's resignation also as a Chief Parliamentary Secretary in Punjab.

Sources close to her said her resignation was "imminent", though there was no official word on her resignation from the government.

The confusion was compounded by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal's statement on her resignation.

"The resignations tendered by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu will have no impact on the SAD-BJP alliance," Badal said.

He dismissed reports about the Sidhus joining Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as of no consequence to the SAD-BJP alliance, which has been in power in Punjab since 2007.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu left for New Delhi on Monday afternoon to join her husband. Her mobile phone remained unreachable.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said he had no information on the resignation of Navjot Kaur Sidhu, a Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Amritsar-East seat.

Despite being a part of the government as a CPS, she has been critical of the Badal government.

The Sidhu couple has been at loggerheads with the Badals for the past few years.

Elections to the 117-member Punjab assembly are slated for February next year.

--IANS

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