Sidhuism Under Siege

For someone who has observed Navjot Singh Sidhu from close, not in the television studios where the setting is formal, but out on the streets during his public discourse, and also when he is within the four walls of his home on the Mall road in Amritsar, I got to know he was a much different person, quite unlike what the popular perception about him had been. Whether or not l liked him is not important here.   

His unnecessary facetious quips on television comedy shows where he sits as a judge, and his one liners oozing with pearls of wisdom as a cricket commentator notwithstanding, Sidhu can drill holes in a concrete wall with the rustic and acerbic Punjabi at his command, a facet not known to most people who just watch him on TV. But this is just one of many facets of his personality.    

 

 

 

Sihdu, when forayed into politics on a ticket from the Bhartiya Janata Party in 2004 to contest from Amtisar, didn’t know much about the ways of politics, many would argue, he still doesn’t, because of the way he has earned more foes than friends, both within and outside his party. But he certainly didn’t lack enthusiasm and determination. And this is his dogged determination and commitment for Amritsar that he has even locked horns with the all powerful top leadership of the ruling Shiromani AKali Dal, he once got along so well with.

The three time member parliament has been locked in a prickly back and forth with Punjab CM and deputy CM, over the issue of development of Amritsar, ever since his return to the city after an absence of over ten months. Sidhu claims that the Punjab government has deliberately scuttled his pet projects, like the solid waste management plant, sports complex, CCTV cameras in the walled city etc. Though, the MP and his wife had let some of their grouse out on the social media when Sidhu’s wife, Dr. Navjot in a facebook post had stated that the MP was feeling suffocated in the prevailing political set up where he wasn’t being allowed to function with honesty.  She had even mentioned the possibility of Sidhu quitting politics altogether. But of late, the war of words has been fiercer. Sidhu demanded from the CM a judicial probe into this diversion of funds. But the chief minister did not respond to the demand.

*A fight for credit

Many believe, Sidhu’s grouse is genuine. While the projects he initiated before the assembly elections in Punjab were gasping for money, funds were diverted from Amritsar to some other towns. And, amid the pyrogenic exchanges, Sukhbir Badal announced works worth Rs. 2000 crore in the city, without inviting the local MP to take part in the foundation laying.

Once very thick with Akali Dal, the reason for falling out is friction between Sidhu and Bikram Majithia, Akali dal MLA from Majitha and a minister in the Badal cabinet. Bikram is brother of Sukhbir Badal’s wife, Harsimrat. With keen participation in the party’s affairs, he has emerged as the strongest leader of the party in the Majha region. Amritsar being the most important city in Majha, Bikram’s interests began to clash with those of Sidhu. Grapevine has it that Akali Dal is eyeing the Amritsar parliamentary seat. Hence, the fight for credit over development, which is largely confined only to laying foundation stones. Apart from an elevated highway, which is NHAI’s project, and beautification and widening of approach to the Golden Temple, Amritsar hasn’t seen much in terms of development.

Sidhu’s reputation as an honest politician has never been in question. He believes people of Amritsar can understand his long and protracted absence from the constituency. He needs to earn his living and TV gets him that.  He is raising his voice about his projects being scuttled, because he wants to get the message to the voters. Despite a gag order by the party, Sidhu isn’t the one to be cowed down.  He is firing salvos at the Badals and they are also returning the fire. Instead of giving clear answers to questions raised by Sidhu, Badals too have turned combative. During a recent interaction with media, Badal senior quipped, “Even his own party has failed to understand what’s wrong with Sidhu. I just hope there is no match-fixing (with Congress) going on”.

*Emasculated BJP

 

 

While Sidhu is going through the worst crisis of his nine year long political career, his party doesn’t seem to be standing behind him. Shiromani Akali Dal is the senior partner in the Punjab government with 57 seats in the house of 117. It also has support of 2 independent MLAs, taking its tally to 59- the majority mark. Though, the BJP did better than what was expected in the Punjab election, but despite its 12 seats, it’s an emasculated side with no bargaining power left with it. Even the party’s central unit won’t want to risk relations with its strongest ally just ahead of the crucial parliamentary election.

The victory margin for Sihdu has only thinned since his first mega win over Congress’s six time MP RL Bhatia. In 2009, against OP Soni, it came down to barely three thousand, which is razor thin in parliamentary polls. So, ensuring Aakali Dal’s whole hearted support is a must before the BJP can place a bet on Sidhu again.

While we wait for the denouement of this vexatious political sparring, Sidhu seems undeterred by all these odds. He has taken his fight to a crescendo. We will know who delivers the final punch.