Navjot Singh Sidhu dares Amarinder to prove he wanted to switch sides
Chandigarh: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been critical of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh over the desecration issue, on Saturday challenged him to prove that he had met any leader of other party for switching sides.
The Amritsar MLA also said he had never asked anyone for any post but was offered cabinet berths many times.
In his latest tweet, Sidhu also uploaded a video in which he showed his pictures with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Sidhu has been critical of CM Amarinder Singh after the Punjab and Haryana High Court last month quashed a probe into the 2015 Kotkapura firing incident, which had taken place during a protest against the desecration of a religious text in Punjab's Faridkot.
The Punjab CM too had slammed Sidhu, calling his outbursts "total indiscipline" and suggesting that he may be leaving for the Aam Aadmi Party.
Prove one meeting that I have had with another party's leader ?! I have never asked anyone for any post till date. All I seek is Punjab's prosperity !! Was invited & offered cabinet berths many times but I did not accept. Now, our esteemed high command has intervened, will wait, said Sidhu in a tweet on Saturday.
Both Amarinder and Sidhu had met over tea in March following reports that the Congress central leadership had been trying to rehabilitate the Amritsar MLA who had resigned as minister after he was divested of the Local Bodies portfolio in 2019.
After the meeting, Amarinder had then expressed confidence that Sidhu would be back in his cabinet.
Sidhu had joined the Congress after leaving the BJP before the 2017 Assembly polls.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
