High strike rate in state polls takes Sidhu’s brand equity up for LS polls
Cricketer-turned-politician addressed five rallies a day for 17 days in the run-up to elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
CHANDIGARH: Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has proved he is not just a comic relief as a star campaigner for the Congress after the party’s stellar show in three states where he campaigned. With Lok Sabha polls just a few months away, the cricketer-turned-politician’s brand equity has gone up several notches as the party’s new votecatcher.
Sidhu emerged on the campaign scene three weeks ahead of the polls, wrapping up five rallies a day for 17 days. During his whirlwind tour, he campaigned for four days in Chhattisgarh, six each in MP and Rajasthan and one in Telengana. In his shootfrom-the-lip style, Sidhu tickled the funny bone of audiences and hit the BJP where it hurts — demonetisation, Rafale deal and its poll promise on black money.
Sidhu’s catch-line, “bure din jaane wale hai, Rahul Gandhi aane wale hai (bad days are about to end, Rahul is going to be at the helm)” gave Congress the handle to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 Lok Sabha poll plank and his secular credentials dented the temple politics of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. His gritty sixers and tons — from his assortment of Sidhuisms — kept the BJP on the edge.
As multi-lingual Sidhu with gift of gab drew crowds in the Hindi heartland, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel’s office, which was coordinating his programmes, saw more requests pouring in from Congress units of all the three states for his rallies. The Indian Youth Congress took up managing his social media and reactivated his Twitter account in November after his Facebook Live on demonetisation clocked lakhs of views. His proximity to the Gandhis adds to his new-found clout within the party.
Though Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar credits the Congress victory to party chief Rahul Gandhi, he said the contribution of Sidhu was exemplary. “Everybody did their bit, but Sidhu did more than his bit. Also, for once, BJP should have the humility and grace to accept Rahul’s leadership ability,” Jakhar said.
Even Sidhu critics believe it was the BJP and Akali Dal, its ally in Punjab, that made the minister a formidable foe by branding him a “traitor” for hugging Pak army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa at Imran Khan’s swearing in.
Later, the Modi government gave its go-ahead to the Kartarpur corridor and Sidhu emerged as the show stealer at its groundbreaking ceremony in Pakistan and won hearts of Sikhs all over the world.
Back home too, Sidhu’s growing political stock will change power equations. The corridor has brought the cold war between Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Sidhu out in the open. Amarinder has dubbed the corridor an “ISI -conspiracy” on Sunday and said Sidhu at times shoots before he thinks. The CM’S remarks came after his snub to Pakistan and Sidhu later calling Rahul his Captain at a press conference.
While the CM did not campaign in any of the states that went to polls, Sidhu now matters more than ever in the Congress scheme of things for Lok Sabha elections, something which would make the Amarinder camp uneasy. Also, with the party’s latest wins, there will be more CMS in the Congress stable other than Amarinder.
Though the two have yet to call truce, Sidhu has his eyes set on the finals next year. “The poll results are a renaissance song. They have resurrected the Congress and laid the foundation stone for Rahul to unfurl the national flag at the Red Fort next year,” said Sidhu, who has batted many controversies this year. But he seems to be having the last laugh.
The poll results are a renaissance song. They have resurrected the Congress and laid the foundation stone for Rahul to unfurl the national flag at the Red Fort next year. NAVJOT SIDHU, CABINET MINISTER