AAP offers Navjot Singh Sidhu Punjab's deputy CM's post if it wins poll

CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu had a meeting with AAP national organizing secretary Durgesh Pathak on Wednesday.Sources said after Congress, AAP too has offered the former opening batsman the deputy CM's post if Kejriwal & Co formed the government in Punjab after the assembly elections in early 2017.

There was also a discussion of Sidhu's front contesting elections in alliance with AAP. Senior AAP leaders refused to comment on the of fer made in the middle of the negotiations.

But in the past AAP leaders, including MP Bhagwant Mann and Punjab convener Gurpreet Singh `Ghuggi' Waraich have insisted that their constitution doesn't allow an alliance and only merger can take place.

Pathak told TOI that the meeting went off well and both sides are hoping for the best. He, however, did not divulge if any conditions were put forth by Sidhu for joining the party . “Let's see how things work out,“ he said.

The meeting reportedly lasted for an hour. Awaaz-ePunjab has been negotiating with both Congress and AAP.

Congress is ready to induct Sidhu and other members, but AAP may find it difficult to offer tickets to both Sidhu and his wife due to the one-family-one-ticket policy .

It is for this reason that the present negotiations assume greater significance.