Navjot Singh Sidhu formally resigns from BJP

CHANDIGARH: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu today formally resigned from BJP, days after he announced floating of a new "non-political" platform in poll-bound Punjab.

Sidhu, who quit his Rajya Sabha membership on July 18, sent his resignation from BJP to party chief Amit Shah.

"I hereby resign from the primary membership of BJP. Long association (with BJP), painful decision...my wife, children and party not, Punjab alone (comes) first. Punjab, Punjabiat and every Punjabi must win (sic)," Sidhu said in his letter.

However, Sidhu's wife, the BJP MLA from Amritsar (East), has not resigned from the party yet. "Dr Navjot Kaur has not yet resigned from BJP," a close associate of her said.

Sidhu's political future has been a subject of speculation. Intially, there was a talk of his joining AAP and becoming its face in the Assembly polls next year, but his bitter attack against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ruled it out.

He had not resigned from BJP despite floating Awaaz-e- Punjab forum earlier this month.

The 52-year-old former cricketer had represented Amritsar in the Lok Sabha between 2004 and 2014.

BJP decided not to field him from Amritsar in the 2014 parliamentary elections. The party fielded now Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who lost to Amarinder Singh.