Sidhu, Pargat may join Cong, final call today

JALANDHAR: Awaaz-e-Punjab front leader and former Amritsar BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu is likely to join the Congress along with Pargat Singh, the former Shiromani Akali Dal legislator from Jalandhar cantonment. Their partners, the Ludhianabased Bains brothers, will be supporting the Congress from outside.

Stating this on Saturday, a key Aawaz-e-Punjab leader said that talks with the Congress have been more fruitful than those with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

“Nothing is final yet. Sunday is a crucial day,” he said after a meeting of the front, comprising Sidhu, Pargat, Balwinder Bains and his brother Simarjit Singh Bains.

The meeting held at Sidhu’s residence in New Delhi was called to decide on the front’s future but ended inconclusively.

Pargat Singh said the front leaders will meet again on Sunday to take a final call.

Sources said the AAP candidate from Amloh, Gurpreet Bhatti, also attended the meeting with the proposal of giving five seats to the Aawaz-e-Punjab leaders besides the post of deputy chief minister if voted to power. “Sidhu confronted the AAP leader on the chief ministerial candidate. Bhatti will be meeting us again on Sunday,” said an Aawaz-e-Punjab leader on condition of anonymity.

A Congress leader said Pargat and Sidhu were likely to join the party, while the Bains brothers had reservations about doing so. “Talks are in progress to bring them on board too,” said the leader, who requested anonymity.