Navjot Sidhu's wife said she doesn't see the Congress as an ideal political destination for the couple
Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife has said she does not see the Congress as an ideal political destination for the couple, also keeping the Aam Aadmi Party option open with some praise.
Here are the latest developments:
The Sidhus, BJP members for years, are looking to change parties ahead of the Punjab assembly elections to be held early next year. Navjot Kaur Sidhu is a BJP lawmaker in the Punjab assembly; her husband quit as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha last month.
Mr Sidhu has been in talks since to join Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party and a joining date of August 15 was reportedly missed because they could not agree on terms and conditions.
Amarinder Singh has invited Mr Sidhu to join the Congress, saying the party is in his DNA since his parents have for long been members of the party in Punjab.
"How can Congress be an alternative for us? If you talk about honesty, if you are asking for a change in Punjab, to save Punjab, then you certainly cannot place Amarinder Singh at that position," Ms Sidhu told NDTV.
She praised the Aam Aadmi Party and hinted that it needs the Sidhus. "Their manifesto has been prepared by AAP volunteers, intellectuals... I admire them... but it is important that people benefit...but those leaders who command trust and take it forward should be there," the lawmaker said.
Mr Sidhu's talks with AAP are said to be stuck over his alleged demand that he be positioned as the party's presumptive chief minister for Punjab.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal tweeted earlier this month that his party is waiting for Mr Sidhu to make up his mind. "He met me last week. Didn't put any pre-condition. He needs time to think. Let's respect that," Mr Kejriwal said.
The Sidhus have also made it clear that they come as a package deal. Both expect to be fielded as candidates in the Punjab election, which is a problem for the Aam Aadmi Party, which does not allow more than one member of a family to stand in an election.
Amarinder Singh has said the Congress will follow the same rule for the Punjab assembly election, but is said to be open to exploring giving back Mr Sidhu Amritsar, the Lok Sabha constituency he held for 10 years before the BJP sidelined him in 2014, fielding now Finance Minister Arun Jaitley instead.
Amarinder Singh had defeated Mr Jaitley in that election. Ms Sidhu alleged today that Amarinder Singh has "done nothing as MP from Amritsar".
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