Navjot Singh Sidhu as CM: AAP not keen, match on hold

CHANDIGARH: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu's flirtations with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seem to have failed to lead to a political marriage at least for the time being. Sources in AAP as well as those close to Sidhu said that there were differences on declaring the former India opening batsman as the CM face ahead of the assembly elections in 2017.

Also, sources claimed that Sidhu wanted a ticket for both himself and his wife apart from 14 other close associates, which AAP was not keen on. Sidhu himself, however, was not available for comment.

Congress members from Punjab on the other hand claimed that they had spoken to Sidhu on Wednesday evening and were ready to accept him in the party fold.

Sidhu had resigned from Rajya Sabha exactly a month ago on July 18 sparking speculation of his joining AAP around August 15. His wife and BJP's Amritsar (east) MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu had even told TOI after his resignation that her husband would never go with Congress and that he was keen on AAP.

After resigning Sidhu had said that his nomination in the Upper House was “a mere burden“, adding that "the purpose behind it stands defeated now". Sidhu had told reporters that he had accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Punjab's welfare.

"With the closure of every window leading to Punjab, the purpose stands defeated. It is now a mere burden, I prefer not to carry it," he had said.Since then, however, things do not seem to have gone according to plan despite a few meetings.

Sources said that the couple had met AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal at his residence in Delhi on Friday evening. "He is still welcome to join us and we will wait for his response," said Durgesh Pathak, AAP's organisational in-charge.

Punjab BJP chief and Union minister Vijay Sampla, on the other hand, said, “Our channel of communication is still open with Navjot Kaur. She discussed several projects in her constituency with me just this morning."