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Back in action: Sidhu pads up for new innings in BJP
Sarbjit Dhaliwal/TNS

Fresh start Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been lying low for a while, has been given key assignments by the BJP which is gearing up for the crucial 2014 Parliamentary poll Sidhu and former party chief Nitin Gadkari will be managing party’s campaign for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Delhi too He will also be touring the country to motivate youngsters to vote for the BJP

Chandigarh, July 21
Multifaceted Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu will soon be active in the BJP politics, again. As the saffron party gears up for the crucial 2014 General Election, the cricketer-turned-politician has been assigned some key tasks by the party top brass.

Sidhu, who would be making New Delhi as his base camp, had completely withdrawn himself from BJP affairs after his “differences” with party leaders over certain issues, including those related to Amritsar’s development and alliance with the Akalis in Punjab. He was keeping himself busy with events pertaining to the cricket and the entertainment world. “I will be busy like a bee from tomorrow onwards and spend five days a week in New Delhi. However, I will spare two days to honour my commitments in Mumbai. These are related to TV shows, the source of my livelihood as well as political funding,” said Sidhu while talking to The Tribune on the phone from New Delhi. “I have already fixed meetings with senior leaders of the BJP,” he said.

“The BJP high command has given me some important assignments. I would have to tour the entire country, addressing youth in colleges, universities and other educational institutions. There is a great responsibility on my shoulders and I will do everything to live up to the expectations of the high command,” said Sidhu, who is one of the most significant Sikh faces of the party.

Sidhu, who shares a good rapport with former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, is expected to chalk out the campaigning strategy with him on July 24-25 for the forthcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Sidhu would also hold meetings with Arun Jaitley and party president Rajnath Singh.

Interestingly, the issues, which made him to stay away from active politics for months, have not been resolved yet. “I would not like to make any comment in this regard”, said Sidhu. His critics in the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal have been trying to knock him out from the political arena in Amritsar. Insiders say Sidhu’s third successive win in the Lok Sabha elections and his wife’s maiden victory in the Assembly elections proved to be an eyesore for his detractors. Sidhu has hinted that various development projects in Amritsar were put on a slow track to politically belittle him.