Navjot Sidhu led front likely to support AAP in Punjab

CHANDIGARH : Awaz-e-Punjab, the front formed by former cricketer and MP Navjot Sidhu is expected to extend un-conditional support to Aam Aadmi Party(AAP). A final decision on it is exdpected to be announced on Saturday after Sidhu’s meeting with three key partners Simranjit Singh Bains, Balwinder Singh Bains and Pargat Singh, all MLA’s.Navjot Sidhu had on Wednesday announced not to float new political party to prevent division of anti-incumbency votes and exdpose the nexus between SAD Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and PPCC President Capt Amarinder Singh. “We will ensure anti-incumbency votes are not divided”, Sidhu said in his statement. He said that Awaz-e-Punjab is a non-political front and will work for the welfare of Punjab.The announcement made by Sidhu is widely welcomed in Punjab and people are eagerly awaiting his final decision. Sidhu had on September 2 held a press conference in Chandigarh where he had given announced to form fourth political front in Punjab. Sidhu was rebuked on social media and it was alleged that he was acting on hehest of RSS. The team members of Sidhu who interacted with the people found that they were being projected ‘friends’ of Badal family and if they form fourth front it would directly help the SAD-BJP government.The decision of Sidhu is also a major setback for former AAP convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur who was expecting to join hands with Navjot Sidhu and play spoilsport for the AAP. Chhotepur has the support of Patiala MP of AAP Dharamvira Gandhi and Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, both suspended from party. It was believed trhat Chhotepur and two AAP MP’s have the backing of Badals and Capt Amarinder Singh. Now it is expected Chhotepur may also abandon the idea of fourth political front and would join Congress party. Capt Amarinder Singh had already extended invitation to him. It was Capt Amarinder Singh who had cried foul when Chhotepur was removed from his post.Sidhu’s decision of not contesting 2017 assembly elections is major set back to the plans of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal who was thriving on division of AAP votes and hoping to return to power. It is part of political strategy of SAD to field as many rebel candidates in all constituencies to divide anti-incumbency votes. Sukhbir Badal understood to have centered his politics on division of votes and polarisation of voters on communal basis. The incidents of sacrilege in Punjab are seen as political game plan of powers that be.With Awaz-e-Punjab supporting the third front against traditinal parties like SAD,BJP and Congress, it is expected Punajb will witness triangular contest in 2017. Sidhu who was three time MP from Amritsar may not contest election but his wife a BJP MLA from Amritsar may however contest on AAP ticket. Sidhu is expected to campaign in Punjab for AAP candidates.Jagmeet Brar a former MP who has also extended support to AAP may contest as an independent with the support of AAP and he will also campaign for AAP canidates.