The concerted efforts of both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (APP) for over a month to woo a political deadwood Navjot Singh Sidhu only reflect on their desperation in face of impending humiliating defeat in the ensuing assembly polls slated next year. These parties hope that Sidhu would bail them out from troubled waters.Stating this here today, political advisor to Punjab chief minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal wondered why Sidhu and his “Awaze Punjab” have become so crucial saviors for two political parties –Congress which is over 130 years old and has ruled the country for maximum number of years and the other AAP though new yet aspires to become pan-India in shortest time.Grewal said that Sidhu had been talking of lofty ideals and relentlessly espousing the cause of his constituency Amritsar and had launched broadside against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal for three four years.
But now Sidhu has suddenly changed track. Ironically, his only concern during the ongoing negotiations with AAP and Congress has been what would be his role and whether his wife would get position of deputy chief minister of Punjab in post poll scenario.“ Has Sidhu talked of any program or vision for Punjab or its people? If Sidhu discussed what the new government would do to farmers or traders? If any ideological differences on national or state issues are coming in way of alliance or understanding with the Congress and AAP”, asked Grewal .“First decide whether he or his wife would be offered Deputy chief ministerial post or not. Rest everything can wait and be decided later”, said Grewal adding that for Sidhu “ I, me and mine” is everything and he has proved himself embodiment of a self seeker limited to self aggrandizement.Grewal was equally shocked at the desperation writ large on the faces Congress and AAP leadership. While Priyanka Gandhi reportedly got in touch with Sidhu through Ghulam Nabi Azad while APP has assigned national organization building head Durgesh Pathak to rope in Sidhu.
“Is it not strange that Amarinder had initially welcomed saying Sidhu’s father was in Congress and it would be his natural choice but subsequently derided him dubbing his Awaze Punjab a “tonga party” and him a “A Clown”. Why now again taking a complete U-turn Amarinder is ready to welcome Sidhu with open arms in party fold? And why should Sidhu look up to Congress after facing such humiliation at Amarinder’s hands.. On the other hand, Sidhu too had been making disparaging comments on AAP leadership and the APP had rejected his conditions his conditions as their constitution did not permit more than one member from a family. Yet AAP has no compunction in approaching Sidhu and opening fresh channels of communications.Sidhu has so far spurned the moves of the top leadership of both the parties yet they are shamelessly pursuing Sidhu. These parties hope Sidhu would be crowd puller at the hustings but crowds rarely get transformed into votes, added Grewal.