How Sidhu cost Congress dearly in Punjab Assembly election

Sidhu lost Amritsar East seat by a margin of 6,713 votes to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee Jivan Jyot Kaur, who was polled 39,520 votes.

Often called an eternal rebel, Sidhu could not retain his 2017 vote share. He polled 60,477 votes in 2017 but could only get 32,807 votes this time. Sidhu’s bete noire Bikram Majithia, who contested election from Amritsar East for the first time, managed to pocket 25,112 votes.

It was due to the provocation of Navjot Sidhu that Bikram Majithia decided to take on him in his constituency. Their fight benefitted the AAP, which won this seat, polling more than double the votes it got in 2017 (14,715 votes).

Poor coordination with voters and local leaders also contributed to Sidhu’s defeat. There are allegations that Navjot Sidhu only visited his constituency twice in five years.

The PCC chief faced opposition within the Congress for his public statements. His “wet pants” remark and abusive language caught on camera caused major embarrassment to the party.

Local municipal councillors and Amritsar Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Aujla, too, did not go well with Sidhu. “There is nothing new in it. He is known for this [intemperate language]. But the [real] issue is of disrespect, as we tell the children not to speak ‘tu but tusi’. His language of ‘tu-tadaak’ has an impact on the people,” Gurjeet Aujala said before election results were announced.

He said, “Sidhu is a tall leader. Many people follow him…but the words that come out of his mouth We can also oppose the opponents in a civilised manner. The leaders like him must speak within limits,” Gurjeet Aujala said.

Despite being the Punjab PCC chief, Sidhu did not campaign for other party nominees and failed to win his own seat.

“The voice of the people is the voice of God… [I] humbly accept the mandate of the people of Punjab. Congratulations to AAP,” said Sidhu, accepting the Congress’s defeat in Punjab Assembly election on Thursday.

SIDHU EMBARASSED HIS OWN GOVERNMENT

On many occasions, Navjot Singh Sidhu embarrassed his own government. He resigned as PCC chief over differences with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over the appointment of Punjab police chief and advocate general.

Sidhu threatened to sit on a dharna against the Congress government alleging that the poll promises were not fulfilled and demanding swift action in 2015 sacrilege cases. He questioned the functioning of the Congress government much like an Opposition leader.

The move to oust Captain Amarinder Singh was allegedly fuelled by him with an idea that the party will get rid of the four-and-a-half years of anti-incumbency. But the move backfired.

The episode also unveiled Sidhu’s not-so-secret political aspiration to head the government after Amarinder Singh’s unceremonious exit, and later be declared the Congress’s chief ministerial face. This resulted in a bitter fight between the rival Congress factions.

Navjot Sidhu’s alleged soft stance on Pakistan and its Prime Minister Imran Khan also helped the rival BJP to build a narrative to polarise the Hindu voters, but it did not benefit the BJP.

“Captain Amarinder Singh was working in tandem with Badals. We thought that replacing him will help and get rid of anti-incumbency but it didn’t,” said Congress MP Ravneet Bittu.

While the party high command is busy analysing the defeat, Navjot Sidhu has not taken responsibility for the defeat as PCC chief.