The capsizing ship of the Congress party in India is at its worse, slowly losing prominence as a national party. Even in the states which polled quite recently, the mood amongst the masses has still not forgiven those disastrous UPA years. As it is reeling under the weight of successive losses and no surgery to replace its top ineffectual leadership, rats leaving a sinking ship is a natural consequence. Leaders leave party looking at electoral prospects and voter mood to greener pastures especially in the wake of an impending election season. The case of Ritu Bahaguna Joshi is well known as a stanch congress worker and a Gandhi insider quit her party to switch loyalties in the wake of UP elections.
As Punjab is gearing up to face its first election edition since the Modi wave washed the shores of a decisive parliamentary mandate, the odds from a triangular three party slugfest has divided further into an four party contest. The Badals are facing tremendous anti incumbency and the drug menace portrayed in movies like Udta Punjab is still in the public memory. Congress under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh will try to dislodge the Badals and for the BJP the outcome may be crucial with respect to NDA formation and continuation. However, the emergence of AAP has given a fourth dimension to a state which definitely has raised hopes of another AAP govt outside Delhi. And in this quest of power, the musical game of chairs in Amritsar right now is replaced by a laughter track with Navjot Singh Sidhu making a decisive announcement.
Former cricketer turned commentator turned comedy show judge and always a politician, Sidhu had surprised many with choice of his new party he’s jumping into finally. As he mentioned about his purported ‘ghar wapasi‘, the decision seemed more sort of a reverse brain drain or an unconventional flow of sorts.
Navjot Sidhu was BJPs star campaigner in the past with the first problems cropping up an year before 2014 elections. He wasn’t included as an office bearer in President Rajnath Singh’s team and his differences with Akali Dal at the grass roots in Punjab planted first seeds of discontent in his minds. As the BJP transformed itself through its leadership change, Sidhu felt sidelined but intervention from the central leadership paved his stay or lingered for a bit longer. Having nominated for Rajya Sabha, his disconnect with the party increased more so because of Arun Jaitley fighting Lok Sabha from Amristar seat which he desperately himself wanted to and this may have pushed him on to the brink. Sidhus (his wife is an MLA in Punjab) share a very uneasy relationship with the Akalis and never really got along with the Badals. Even his wife as an MLA was never inducted as a minister. The denying of Amritsar ticket was sort of a final nail in the coffin. And it was just a matter of time.
Perhaps mid of 2016 was chosen by Sidhu to quit BJP as he felt it may give him ground to actualise his election prospects for Punjab. It may have been a smart move as other parties bagging him would be big at the time of elections and he too can bargain for something bigger and better. Perhaps his second move of joining other party was met with different fluctuating hearsays.There was a tremendous mill rumours indicating he will join the AAP. After his floating a new party stories made the rounds, he finally today announced he will join congress after his meeting with Rahul Gandhi.
His smart move of deciding to quit or put pressure on BJP was overshadowed by his choice of the party to move. As a matter of fact, some exit polls have shown AAP reportedly gaining some ground in Punjab and an eventuality of it being in power was foreseen. Sidhu perhaps could have found niche in AAP where he may even have had a subtle opportunity to be something like CM.
Congress as mentioned before is drowning and is still simmering under its marginalised polity in the country. The chances of the Congress doing well in Punjab even if may be an eventuality, Sidhu may not get the dream coveted job he would be expecting. Captain Amarinder Singh is in full throttle to gain the mantle of CM ship and Sidhu may have to be contented with something compromising. The case of Narayan Rane is well known where he was swayed by Congress during elections and was promised to be made as the CM. In an infighting after winning polls where leaders squabbled, Rane had to be happy with revenue ministry and was left sulking into eternity.
A series of unfortunate events may have triggered Sidhu to switch over to Grand old party. Nevertheless this short term gain may derive him some dividends but in tune of kind term prospects, the decision is bleak. ‘I am a born congressman’, these words on eve of his transfer were met with ridicule and jokes all over the cyber world.
Congress party has been anyways reduced to a comedy show of sorts.