AAP Opens Door For Navjot Singh Sidhu; ‘No Official Talks Yet’ Clarifies Party Leader Bhagwat Mann

As the speculations rise regarding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab welcoming Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu into the party, Punjab state AAP chief Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday (19 February) said that there has been no "official-level" talks with Sidhu, reports The Republic.

Bhagwant Mann said, "He is an honest man. Every person who loves Punjab and wants to work for the welfare of the state is welcome. There have been no official talks with him so far."

Navjot Sidhu had gone incommunicado after resigning from the state cabinet last year. The Amritsar MLA, who initially held the portfolios of local government and Tourism and Culture Ministry in the Captain Amarinder Singh-led government, was handed over the Power and New and Renewable Energy Resources ministry instead after a cabinet reshuffle when the party won eight parliamentary seats out of 13 in the 2019 polls.

He eventually resigned from the state cabinet last year after falling into numerous controversies and speaking against the Punjab CM on multiple occasions.

Since then he has been on a 'self-imposed' political exile and was seen in a public function in his hometown Amritsar recently.

His image and standing in the party further suffered a blow when he lauded Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan Niazi for having "won hearts" by inaugurating the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and hugged Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.