Ex-BJP MP Sidhu joins Congress

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu yesterday finally joined the Congress after a meeting with its vice-President, Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi.

Gandhi warmly welcomed Sidhu, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament from Amritsar, into the party at his residence. Sidhu’s wife had joined the Congress earlier.

Sidhu is expected to contest the February 4 Punjab assembly election from Amritsar East. Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the party “welcomes Sidhu and thanks Gandhi for bringing likeminded leaders under the Congress umbrella”.

Former Punjab Chief Minister and state party chief Captain Amarinder Singh congratulated Sidhu over the phone from Bathinda.

Sidhu quit the BJP saying he was feeling stifled there.