Navjot Singh Sidhu’s roar turns into a whimper

Former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said that he would not float a political party and his recently launched Awaaz-e-Punjab will remain only a forum as he does not wish to play “spoilsport” by dividing anti-incumbency votes in the upcoming Punjab Assembly election.

In a press release issued here, Mr Sidhu said his “forum” received a rousing response in Punjab. “The Bains brothers roared like lions and wanted to contest all 117 seats. Hockey legend Pargat Singh, the eternal optimist, was in the affirmative. I have pondered the fluid political situation in the state, weighed the pros and cons and reached the conclusion that we will not play spoilsport and confuse people further but give them clarity to vote in Punjab’s interests.”

Mr Sidhu said they would not divide the anti-incumbency vote, which could benefit the “Badal-Amarinder nexus”. “This will defeat our purpose of bringing a change for the betterment of Punjab,” he said. The four-time MP said the minimum time taken by a new political party to win a state election is almost two years, and three months was too short a time for the herculean task.

“Our battle is to shake the system that has ruined Punjab. Politics is not a profession but a mission. There is no personal or political vendetta; just a burning desire to take Punjab ahead. The forum welcomes any alliance for the betterment of Punjab and will not be a political party,” Mr Sidhu said.

Mr Sidhu, along with MLA Pargat Singh and Ludhiana MLAs Simarjit Bains and Balwinder Bains, had recently announced the launch of the forum here after a public fall out with BJP, which he formally quit on September 14.

Earlier there was speculation that he would join Aam Aadmi Party but it was ruled out after he lashed out at its national convener Arvind Kejriwal.