Navjot Singh Sidhu Committed Political Suicide By Leaving BJP: Vijay Sampla

New Delhi: Amid speculation over Navjot Singh Sidhu joining Congress, Punjab BJP chief Vijay Sampla today said the cricketer-turned-politician has committed "political suicide by leaving the party". "Sidhu has committed political suicide by leaving BJP and nothing is left in him," Mr Sampla said and asked if he cannot "adjust in a democratic party" such as BJP, "how will he sustain in Congress in case he joins it".

There have been reports of talks between Congress leaders and Mr Sidhu over his joining the party ahead of Punjab polls next year, even as the party's state unit chief Amarinder Singh has reportedly offered his Amritsar Lok Sabha seat to the former BJP MP.

Amarinder Singh had said on Monday that he has no "reservation whatsoever" to the cricketer-turned-politician and other leaders of Awaaz-e-Punjab forum joining Congress. Former Punjab Congress chief and MP Partap Singh Bajwa has also been pitching for bringing Sidhu on the board.

Mr Sidhu, who quit his Rajya Sabha membership on July 18 and in September had announced floating of a "non-political" platform, Awaaz-e-Punjab along with MLAs Pargat Singh, Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains.

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The 52-year-old former BJP leader, who had represented Amritsar in the Lok Sabha between 2004 and 2014, had accused BJP of using him as a "decorative piece" and trying to keep him out of Punjab.