Unpredictable in politics as in cricket, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s decision to quit the Rajya Sabha, less than three months after he was surprisingly nominated to the House of Elders, means the BJP’s “grand plan” of limiting the damage in Punjab has come unstuck before the whistle is blown for the elections to the state assembly.
When the BJP named him to the Rajya Sabha in April, it was seen as a masterstroke.
On one level, it was seen as a move to make peace with the four-time parliamentarian who had been overlooked for the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency in favour of Arun Jaitley (who lost ignominiously despite the Modi wave). And, on another level, it was seen as a bid to pre-empt rumours of Sidhu joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of next year’s elections.
The cricketer-turned-commentator-turned-comedian himself said on Twitter: “Beginning of a new inning… Always on the front foot. It’s a mighty six.”