Navjot Singh Sidhu quit BJP to join AAP: Wife

A day after Navjot Singh Sidhu stunned the BJP by resigning from the Rajya Sabha, just three months after his nomination by the Narendra Modi government, his wife Navjot Kaur said there was no room for his reconciliation with the BJP. “His resignation means he has also quit the BJP and the only option left for him is to join the AAP,” she said.

Ms Kaur, who is a BJP MLA from Amritsar East and chief parliamentary secretary (health) in Punjab’s Akali-BJP government, said she herself had not quit her post. “I have not resigned from the BJP. I have made no decision as yet,” she said, and went on: “I think he (Sidhu) has very clearly suggested what he is going to do, and in the coming days let him come out with this (his future plans). He has said he wants to serve Punjab and there is no choice except serving from the Aam Aadmi Party.”

Ms Kaur, who also attacked her own government’s performance, added: “Let Sidhu say all these things himself. I am personally impressed by the AAP’s ideology and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s working style.”

Ms Kaur criticised Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, calling him “the biggest opportunist ever”. About her husband, she added: “There is no question of his going back, he has never gone back on his word. He wants to serve Punjab. He will serve the state. The BJP opted to please the Akalis in Punjab by ignoring Sidhu.” On the Akali-BJP relationship, she said: “If the BJP and SAD have differences... and their workers don’t bond well, they must part ways and work separately.”