Sidhu’s front changes tack, open to tie-up with Cong

Chandigarh : Awaaz-e-Punjab, which had taken potshots at Parkash Singh Badal as well as Capt Amarinder Singh, now says that it is open to an alliance with the Congress.
The forum, which has already hinted at backing AAP, claims that its agenda for the Assembly elections is a ‘Badal-mukt Punjab’. Awaaz-e-Punjab leaders Navjot Singh Sidhu, Pargat Singh, Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains met at Sidhu’s house in New Delhi last night.
Independent MLA Simarjit Bains told The Tribune that they did not want to float a political party and divide the anti-incumbency vote, which would only help the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal. “We don’t want the Badals to return to power at any cost,” Bains said. “Talks are on with the Congress and AAP. Whichever party we find interested in serving Punjab will be our choice,” he added. Last week, Sidhu had ruled out forming the fourth front on the grounds that they “will not divide the anti-incumbency vote as it could indirectly benefit the corroborative and collusive Badal-Amarinder nexus.” He had alleged that both plundered Punjab in the past 15 years.