Out of bounds, Sidhu's house in Amritsar wears deserted look

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 14

The residence of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu wore a deserted look after the news of his resignation from the Cabinet became public.

The leader’s residence, which is situated in a private township on the outskirts of the city, usually remains abuzz with activity. Senior officials, politicians and local residents often flock to his residence for varied reasons.

Otherwise affable and expressive, Sidhu did not come out of his residence today even as his cars, including the official Gypsy, were parked inside.

Security guards refused to entertain mediapersons, who wanted to talk to Sidhu about the reasons of his resignation and his next course of action. A message eventually came out that he would hold a press conference in case he wished to convey his sentiments.

Meanwhile, supporters of Sidhu, mainly councillors and middle-rung leaders, who were associated with him for long, were disheartened. His resignation to Rahul Gandhi was made public a day after the state government appointed Dinesh Bassi, a leader from his Amritsar East Assembly constituency, as chairman of Amritsar Improvement Trust.

Bassi had been nursing the segment for long in anticipation of contesting state Assembly elections. However, his chances were dashed when Sidhu switched over to the Congress after resigning from the BJP. The rift between Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Sidhu has now brightened Bassi’s prospects.

The flashpoints

• Earlier on several occasions, the tension between Capt Amarinder and Navjot Singh Sidhu had come out in the public. Last year, Sidhu had said in Hyderabad, “(Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi is my captain...Rahul is the captain of the captain (Singh) also.” On his part, the CM had disapproved of Sidhu’s act of hugging Pakistan army chief during his visit to the neighbouring country.
• Capt Amarinder Singh had, on June 6, divested Navjot Singh Sidhu of local bodies and cultural affairs departments and gave him the power department 
• Sidhu was reportedly removed due to party’s poor show in urban areas in the recent Lok Sabha elections
• Presenting a detailed analysis of the party’s performance in rural and urban areas, Sidhu had claimed that he was being singled out