JOIN USDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday clarified that former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu needs time to decide on joining the Aam Aadmi Party.
Indicating that talks between Sidhu and him are on, Kejriwal said in a tweet, “He met me last week. Did not put any pre-condition. He needs time to think. Let us respect that.”
“Would Navjot Sidhu ji join AAP-lot of rumours? It is my duty to put forward our side. We have greatest regard for cricket legend,” the chief minister added.
The clarification comes in the wake of reports that the Congress is getting ready to welcome the cricketer-turned-politician into the party.
Though Sidhu never said he would join AAP, there were enough indications from him and the party that he would contest the Punjab elections, scheduled for early next year. The party has already made it clear that joining AAP would “entirely be Sidhu’s decision”.
According to insiders, the AAP chief is not ready to announce Sidhu as the chief ministerial candidate. In fact, insiders say, Kejriwal is against declaring any chief ministerial candidate because there is a strong wave in favour of the party.
They also said declaring Sidhu as the chief ministerial face would anger AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, who is presently heading the election campaign committee in the state. However, Kejriwal is going ahead with his plans for the elections in Punjab.