Punjab Assembly elections 2017: Navjot Sidhu finally quits BJP

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday after months of speculation. Navjot Singh launched his own party Awaaz-e-Punjab last week. 

The former cricketer was also approached by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) head Arvind Kejriwal to join his party. However, he not only refused the offer but also called the Delhi Chief Minister "Nautanki company wala Kejriwal Sahib." In a video that went viral in July, the Punjab-based politician condemned Kejriwal for going back on his words. Even though Kejriwal previously said that he would not take security or government bunglow, or join politics, he has done all of these, Navjot Singh said.

Navjot Sidhu, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 18 ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections in 2017, will be the chief ministerial candidate of his newly floated party. He has invited "like-minded" people to join his Awaaz-e-Punjab party.

"Yes today morning Sidhu ji has resigned from primary membership of BJP. If BJP doesn't quit alliance with Akali Dal then I surely cannot continue with BJP. If some front puts interest of Punjab as its priority then I will surely join it," said Navjot Kaur on Wednesday. 

Navjot Kaur, a BJP MLA in Punjab, while resigning from the party called it a dictatorship. 

"I am an individual, I have only picked up issues of my zone...This isn't democracy, this is dictatorship. If I raise social issues, how is it anti-party activity?" the BJP MLA added. She also alleged that she was not being allowed to work on problems in her constituency. 

While launching the party in Chandigarh last week, Navjot Sidhu said it was "the resurrection and the revival" of Punjab. It remains to be seen if the newly floated party would win big in the upcoming elections.