Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu joined the Congress yesterday.
Former BJP lawmaker Navjot Singh Sidhu , who formally
joined the Congress yesterday, said that he is ready to contest the upcoming Punjab polls - scheduled for February 4 - from whichever constituency the party wants him to. However, he refused to answer media questions on his possible chief ministerial candidature for the state of Punjab.
"Politics is not done in ifs and buts..
I am ready to work under anybody that the Congress high command suggests. I am a soldier. I am there to fight for Punjab. The goal is Punjab and not individual battles," said the former cricketer-turned politician.
"No if, no but. Only Sidhu - the Jatt," he further joked.
On a possible CM candidature, Mr Sidhu - in his trademark comic style - replied, "The child is in the womb and you are worried about his marriage."
Mr Sidhu was criticised by the BJP's alliance partner in Punjab, the Akali Dal yesterday after the former cricketer joined the Congress. Replying to questions of purported differences with Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh, he said, "In politics, differences of opinion are there."
"If two nations can resolve issues sitting across the table, then why can't two individuals. If Laluji and Nitishji can come together, then why not," he added, referring to the
mahagathbandhan alliance between Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar in Bihar.
The Congress leader, however, refused to answer whether he would contest against the Badals in Lambi.
"I have never said I am going to fight from Lambi," he said.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, who as a member of BJP had served two consecutive terms in the Lok Sabha from the Amritsar constituency, was sidelined in the 2014 polls to accommodate incumbent Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who lost to Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh. Mr Sidhu quit the BJP last year and after much speculation about his political future, welcomed into the Congress yesterday by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
(with inputs from Agencies)