New Delhi: Is Navjot Singh Siddhu and his new political formation Awaaz-e-Punjab ready to bury differences and join hands with AAP ahead of Punjab polls?
A crucial meeting between leaders of Awaaz-e-Punjab and the AAP on Wednesday at the Delhi residence of former BJP MP Sidhu has fuelled fresh speculation that the front could either merge into AAP or reach some kind of political understanding with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
Sources told News18 that Durgesh Pathak who is AAP’s Punjab-in-charge and another AAP leader from Punjab Gurpreet Bhatti discussed threadbare the possible options with Siddhu and Awaz leaders Balwinder Bains, Simarjit Singh Bains and Pargat Singh.
Siddhu, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Amritsar twice before on a BJP ticket, had quit the party recently after prolonged confrontation with the ruling Badal family of Shiromani Akali Dal which has a long-standing alliance with BJP.
While both sides were tight-lipped about what transpired at the meeting at Siddhu’s residence, News18 learns that details of seat sharing and contours of a probable pre-poll alliance were discussed.
“The only decision that has been taken is to re-engage in talks,” Pathak told News18.
Political observers said even the decision to “re-engage in talks” with Sidhu itself is surprising given the bitter charges that Sidhu levelled against AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who, he had accused, wanted to limit Sidhu’s role to being “just a show piece”.
AAP has not offered the post of Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister to Navjot Singh Sidhu, and the party’s constitution says that two members of one family cannot be given tickets. So if the Sidhus join AAP, only one of them will be able to contest, and if AAP sources were to be believed, it would be Navjot Kaur.
An Awaaz leader told News18 that no decision will be taken in a hurry. “We will do whatever is best for Punjab, and the options of allying with AAP as well as merging with AAP are under consideration,” he said.
Significantly, he also indicated that the option of joining the Congress party was also under consideration and that all the members of Awaaz will stay united in their choice.
News18 learns that AAP is aware that Sidhu and Awaz has also a channel open with Congress but the party wanted to appear open to credible homespun leaders from Punjab. The Bains brothers, Navjot Kaur, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Pargat Singh can be reasonably confident about winning their respective seats, if they contest, which is likely making it five reasonably winnable and assured seats. AAP also wants to do all it can to stop Awaz from joining the Congress party thus jettisoning any possibility of splintering of anti-SAD votes
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