Navjot Singh Sidhu being welcomed upon arrival by Congress leaders during a road show at Amritsar.
Highlights
- Navjot Sidhu launched Punjab poll campaign with roadshow of 100 vehicles
- Large crowd of Congress workers chanted "Sidhu Aa Gaya, Sidhu Chhaa Gaya"
- Mr Sidhu joined Congress on Sunday; will contest polls from Amritsar East
After his "Ghar-wapsi" in the Congress,
Navjot Singh Sidhu's homecoming in Punjab's Amritsar after several months was on a grand scale today, with a crowd following him at every step.
Leading a roadshow of some 100 vehicles, the cricketer-turned politician launched his campaign for the February 4 election in the state, which he will contest from Amritsar East - his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu's seat.
It took him more than six hours to cover 11 km on an open-top vehicle, to cries of "
Sidhu Aa Gaya, Sidhu Chhaa Gaya (Sidhu is here, Sidhu rocks)".
As he arrived at the Amritsar airport to a rock-star welcome, Mr Sidhu was greeted by a large crowd of Congress workers holding party flags. For several long minutes, his wife didn't stand a chance.
When Mr and Mrs Sidhu finally met, they quickly hugged and climbed aboard separate vehicles.
Mr Sidhu is returning after a nearly six-month gap to the Sikh holy city which elected him to parliament twice. In that time he quit the BJP in a huff and briefly flirted with Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
In his debut assembly polls, he faces the BJP's Rajesh Honey, a young leader who worked in Mr Sidhu's camp for years. AAP's candidate is rookie Sarabjot Singh Dhanjal.
"The warmth and the love and affection is heart-rending," said 53-year-old Mr Sidhu, dressed in all black and a scarf in Congress colours.
As his motorcade approached the Golden Temple, weaving through the narrow roads, he passed a mosque where some men shouted their welcome. Without missing a beat, Mr Sidhu picked up a green scarf from one of his aides and wore it, waving at them.
"This is a war of right and wrong. You can't be neutral," the ex-commentator and TV show judge said to NDTV, pledging to "restore Punjab to its pristine glory".
On whether this time he would stay in Amritsar long enough to keep his election promises, Mr Sidhu said, "Of course".
Near the Golden Temple, at an election office, a group of AAP workers with their candidate Dr Ajay Gupta watched as Mr Sidhu's procession crawled past.
"Navjot Sidhu will not have the same impact and NO we did not come together. This is just coincidence.''
Mr Sidhu is expected to be the Congress' star campaigner in as many as 70 rallies through the state for the coming election.