Amidst speculations surrounding Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu’s potential return to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the cricketer-turned-politician met the Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing political saga.
Sidhu’s visit to the capital and his subsequent meeting with Priyanka Gandhi dispelled rumours of his imminent defection to the BJP, reaffirming his commitment to the Congress party. The meeting underscored Sidhu’s ongoing efforts to engage with party leaders amid swirling rumours and speculation.
The news of a meet between Sidhu and Priyanka Gandhi was shared on social media, with the Punjab Congress’ former president posting a picture of himself standing behind Priyanka Gandhi in his signature black kurta and embroidered shawl. He captioned the post, “Met her in Delhi today … had a positive discussion … the way forward”.
The meeting comes in the wake of Sidhu's recent video post on social media platforms where he cryptically stated, in Punjabi, “Smoke of our rumours rises from the place where our name ignites fires.” The enigmatic message added fuel to the already simmering speculations regarding his political allegiance.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had made thinly veiled remarks about Sidhu during a gathering in Chandigarh, likening him to a suit worn for a wedding, insinuating that Sidhu's loyalty could be transient.
Sidhu has remained conspicuously absent from the Congress party meetings in Punjab, including state convention attended by the Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, further fueling rumours of his departure.
Despite his absence from official party events, Sidhu has been active on social media, sharing his perspectives on various issues, including the farmer protests. In fact, he has also been galvanizing the party cadre on its own level by organizing rallies, public meetings — without party leadership’s approval or permission — with the help of some party leaders and his supporters.
The speculation regarding Sidhu's potential return to the BJP gained traction, with sources suggesting that he could contest the Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar constituency, a seat he has held three times in the past as a BJP candidate. However, Sidhu has consistently denied these rumours through statements in the media.
In the midst of these swirling speculations, Sidhu has previously praised the pan-India opposition bloc — INDIA, and shared a video highlighting Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, emphasizing the significance of a strong coalition for India's democracy.
In 2014, Sidhu was denied a ticket owing to his bitter relationship with BJP’s ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and given to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley from the Amritsar seat, who lost to the then Congress leader, Capt Amarinder Singh. Subsequently, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP before eventually joining the Congress party.
Sidhu's political journey has been marked by twists and turns, including his resignation from the BJP in 2017 and subsequent entry into the Congress party. However, his recent engagements with Congress leaders and his meeting with Priyanka Gandhi indicate that he may still be considering his options within the Congress fold.
