Navjot Singh Sidhu joining Congress? Ex-BJP MP meets Rahul Gandhi

In a major political development before the Punjab elections in 2017, former BJP MP Navjot Singh met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, triggering speculations that he might join the party soon. According to ANI, the meeting went on for 45 minutes. The meeting assumes significance as the Congress party is all set to release names of its candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls. According to The Economic Times, Sidhu is open to the idea of contesting from the Amritsar (East) constituency, which is currently being held by his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu. [caption id=“attachment_3004356” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A file photo of Navjot Singh Sidhu. PTI[/caption] Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the primary membership of the BJP in September 2016. His wife too resigned from the party later. The ex-cricketer was serving in the Rajya Sabha as a nominated member when he resigned on 18 July. The three-time Amritsar MP later floated the Awaaz-e-Punjab party, which was later termed the “ B-team of the RSS ” by Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal. However, Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, two independent MLAs of the party, announced their resignation during the special session of the Assembly on 16 November in Chandigarh and joined the Aam Aadmi Party . This move by the Bains brothers is speculated as the reason for Sidhu coming close to the Congress, The Times of India reported. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh had earlier  said he had no "reservation whatsoever" to the cricketer-turned-politician and other leaders of Awaaz-e-Punjab joining the Congress.