In Tit-For-Tat Move, Navjot Sidhu Protests Outside Arvind Kejriwal's Home

With Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders flocking to Punjab as the Assembly poll campaign heats up, the ruling Congress has now decided to bring the fight to its rival's home turf, Delhi.

In a tit-for-tat move, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu today joined a dharna by guest teachers outside Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal's residence in demand of regularisation.

Earlier, Mr Kejriwal had joined protesting teachers in Mohali and Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had visited schools in Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's constituency and criticised the state of infrastructure there. 

In visuals from the protest site, Mr Sidhu can be seen raising slogans along with the protesting teachers.

He also took to Twitter to target the Delhi government on its education model, which the AAP is showcasing as its key achievement in the Punjab poll campaign.

Taking a swipe, the Punjab Congress chief said the Delhi education model is a "contract model" and that under the AAP government, unemployment rate in Delhi has increased by almost 5 times over the past five years.

Later, sharing pictures from the protest, Mr Sidhu said guest teachers in Delhi are treated as "bonded labour". 

An association of guest teachers in Delhi has hit out at Chief Minister Kejriwal over his "guarantees" in Punjab, saying that they are waiting for him to fulfill promises for the past seven years.

Mr Sidhu's protest in the national capital came a day after AAP leader Raghav Chadha conducted what he called a "live raid" in Chamkaur Sahib -- Chief Minister Channi's home constituency -- and alleged that illegal sand mining in the state has the Chief Minister's patronage.

Mr Kejriwal too targeted Mr Channi over the "expose", saying that he has to answer the questions of the public.

Over the past few months, the Congress in Punjab has fought more battles within than with its rivals. The infighting in the state party unit first led to the resignation of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and then twists and turns over whether Mr Sidhu will stay on as state Congress chief or not.

Now, with polls close, the party is trying to close ranks in a desperate attempt at damage control.

The AAP has sensed an opportunity as the Congress struggles with its internal issues and has launched a no-holds barred attack on the ruling party. It has also made a slew of promises to the people of the state, including an assurance to pay Rs 1,000 per month to all women above the age of 18 if it is voted to power.

AAP's move to introduce education and healthcare as poll issues in Punjab has caught the Congress on the wrong foot. With two massive election victories under their belt in Delhi - fought mostly on these two issues -- AAP is hoping for a reprise in Punjab, where agriculture, trade, drugs and sacrilege cases have been more central to recent elections.

But the Congress appears unsure of its achievements in these most basic of issues, leading to the party's prickly reaction to the AAP challenge.

Following Punjab Education Minister Pargat Singh's consistent attack on the Delhi education model, Mr Sidhu's Delhi dharna seems to be part of the Congress's offence-best-defence tact.