A AKHTER/ New delhi
Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu and former Olympian Pargat Singh today joined the Congress party. A formal announcement in this regard was made in presence of senior Congress leaders, including Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh, party’s incharge of state Congress affairs Asha Kumari and party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in New Delhi.
Pargat and Kaur met the Congress high command here last week to seal the deal. Later, both met Punjab Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh and discussed the formalities of their joining the party.
On being asked if her husband will join the party, Navjot said, “Hum do shareer ek aatma hai, fir ek durse ke bina kab tak reh paenge? (We are two bodies one soul how can we live separately)”. She later also said that Congress is the only platform for a stable government in Punjab.
Elections to the Punjab assembly are likely to be held early next year.
Joining the party at AICC headquarters in the presence of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh and party’s incharge of state Congress affairs Asha Kumari, Navjot Kaur said “we are soul mates and you will know soon”.
When posed the same question, Amarinder said Sidhu was in Mumbai and will come soon after which discussions will be held with him. “But with his wife in Congress fold, I am sure he will join soon,” he said. Officially welcomed Navjot Kaur and Pargat Singh to the Congress, Amarinder said.
Asked if they will contest the upcoming polls, Navjot Kaur and former Hockey Olympian Pargat Singh said they have joined the party unconditionally and will abide with whatever the party leadership decided. Both were, however, ready to contest from their respective Amritsar East and Jalandhar Cantt assembly seats.
To a question the Congress’ Jaipur resolution that new entrants should have a colling off period, Amarinder said the “Congress President will take a final call on this issue”.
With their joining Congress, which is in political wilderness in the state for the past decade, got a shot in its arm as it is striving to get back to power in Punjab after having lost out to ruling Akali-BJP combine for the past two consecutive polls.