Navjot Singh Sidhu in talks with Congress & AAP ahead of Punjab polls: Pargat Singh

JALANDHAR: The front led by Navjot Singh Sidhu is in talks with Congress and AAP, but the negotiations are on only with the national leadership and not the state units of the parties, former hockey captain and Sidhu’s partner Pargat Singh told ET.

“Our front will be the clincher to tilt the scales in these elections. Whichever party we go with will win. Both the parties are engaging with us though we are not even a political party yet. We have authorised Sidhu to take the final decision in the interest of Punjab,” Singh told ET.

Sidhu, Singh and the Bains brothers joined hands last month to float a front named Awaaz-E-Punjab, which is not a political party yet. They met in Delhi on Wednesday. “We want to contest seats in upcoming polls. We may be only four people but a system has been created under the front where many people are there to contest seats. If nothing materialises, we will form a party and contest on our own symbol,” Singh said. Congress and AAP want the front to merge with either party but the front wants only an alliance with sharing of 15-20 out of the 117 seats to contest, sources say.

There is realisation within Congress that the Sidhu couple could tilt the scales in favour of Congress. A tactical alliance is hence likely between the front and Congress. “Everyday two statements come from Congress criticising us and two praising us. Nothing is final right now,” he said. On AAP denying an alliance as its constitution has no such provision, Singh said: “AAP will do something if it sees a benefit.” Sidhu’s talks with AAP earlier collapsed as it wanted Sidhu to only be a campaigner and his wife to contest.