Sidhu hits out, says Kejri did not want him to contest polls

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal wants only “yes men”, cricketerturned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu alleged on Thursday, saying the Delhi chief minister asked him to not fight the upcoming Punjab polls in return for a ministerial position for his wife.

At the launch of his new political forum Awaaz-e-Punjab, Sidhu said his dramatic resignation from the Rajya Sabha in July had nothing to do with Kejriwal, quashing months of speculation about him joining the AAP. “Kejriwal told me don’t fight elections, ask your wife to contest will make her a minister. I said Sat Sri Akal (goodbye),” Sidhu told reporters.

“Kejriwal ji tweeted about meeting me, but he said half truth. Let me complete it. My resignation from the Rajya Sabha had nothing Navjot Singh Sidhu (right) with Punjab MLA Pargat Singh after they announced the Awaz-e-Punjab party on Thursday.

to do with Kejriwal ji.”

The three-time MP from Amritsar has joined hands with three top voices against the state’s ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance -- former India hockey captain and suspended Akali MLA Pargat Singh and Ludhiana-based powerful independent state lawmakers and brothers Simarjeet and Balwinder Singh Bains.

He repeatedly attacked the ruling Badal family, which he held responsible for putting the state in “dire straits”. “The government should be for the people but in Punjab it is all about one family,” the former cricketer said.

Punjab goes to the polls early next year and the AAP and Congress are looking to end a decade-long rule by the Badals.