Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Jun 17: When cricket-turned-politician Navojot Singh Sidhu, quit the BJP in 2016 and resigned his Rajya Sabha seat, the general perception was that he might join Aam Aadmi Party. Initially, Sidhu had indicated that he might start a non-political organization. But eventually, he joined the Congress, got elected on that party's ticket, and became a member of Capt Amarinder Singh's cabinet.

Of late, there have been frictions between Sidhu and the Punjab chief minister. Sidhu has been divested of important portfolios. He skipped cabinet meeting. Sidhu's lobbying for a Lok Sabha ticket for his wife, Navjot Kaur from Chandigarh constituency, did not succeed.

Now Aam Aadmi Party has said that it welcomes Sidhu into the party. AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema, speaking at Ludhiana, said his party welcomes Sidhu. Cheema said that AAP is the best suited party for Sidhu as he would be able to breathe openly and express himself fully. He said that his party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, are ready to welcome Sidhu into the party.

Kejriwal's tweet of 2016 mentioning that Sidhu had met him the previous week, gains importance at this juncture. Kejriwal had said that he did not put any pre-conditions for Sidhu's induction into the party. He added that Sidhu can take his time to think and he respects Sidhu's sentiments. He said that he and his party have high regard for the cricket legend.