Neither Navjot Singh Sidhu approached us, nor we talked to him: AAP

CHANDIGARH: Days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that party will welcome cricketer- turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu if he wants to join, AAP leader and incharge of Punjab affairs Sanjay Singh today said that neither Sidhu had approached AAP nor the party had spoken to him for the crucial assembly polls, which are due in 2017.

"The talks about Sidhu (joining Aam Aadmi Party) are only in news. Neither Sidhu has approached us nor we have talked to him. The news pertaining to him is coming out on its own. I do not know about the veracity of such news," Singh said here while talking to reporters today.

On Kejriwal's recent statement about Sidhu, the AAP leader said, "We have always said from day one that our party will take a decision on those leaders in other political parties who have clean image."

When asked if AAP would bring a "parachute candidate" for Punjab polls, he said the party would decide about the "face" of the party for the state at an appropriate time.

Stating that the strength of local AAP leaders should not be underestimated, Singh said, "AAP has leadership which is capable of contesting elections and forming government."

Speculations are rife that ex-MP Sidhu might join AAP as the party wants to put up a face who has mass appeal among voters for the assembly polls.

Kejriwal in Delhi on December 5 had said, "We will welcome Navjot Singh Sidhu if he wants to join AAP."

The AAP convener had also exuded confidence that the party would sweep Punjab elections.

"There is no challenge from both parties (SAD and Congress). We will repeat the history of Delhi's victory in Punjab," Singh, who was accompanied by AAP's Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and its Punjab co-convener Durgesh Pathak, said.

Singh said Congress and BJP used to say that AAP was an inexperienced party during Delhi polls. "The result of polls is before everyone. Kejriwal created history in the polls as party swept Delhi elections. Therefore, it is wrong to underestimate AAP leaders," he added.