I will be his wicketkeeper, says Capt in first press conference with Sidhu

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar,  January 19

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday said his party was aiming for two-third majority in the Assembly elections, and the incumbent SAD-BJP alliance will manage to win only 10 to 20 seats.

Addressing the media along with newly-inducted member Navjot Singh Sidhu for the first time here, Amarinder said the people of Punjab were fed up with the SAD and want to dethrone the government.

Former BJP MP Sidhu hinted at playing ‘second fiddle’ ‘to Capt Amarinder in his maiden innings of Assembly polls.

It was also for the first time that Sidhu refrained from answering queries posed to him. When asked to comment over PM Modi’s demonetisation move, Sidhu said, “When Congress president is here who am I to speak”.

Setting aside speculations of alleged cold war over the post of ‘chief minister’, Amarinder made it clear that the Sidhu couple joined the Congress unconditionally though they would play a vital role in the party, if voted to power.

Unlike in 2012, the Congress has been late in announcing its CM face.

Sidhu’s body language indicated that he was prepared to start his political innings under his new ‘captain’.    

Amarinder volunteered to be his wicketkeeper. “As wicketkeeper I will be there to catch him in slips”, he said.

When Amarinder was asked if he would accept Sidhu as the chief minister, Sidhu bounced back with his one-liner. ‘No ifs and buts…if my aunt were a man, she would have been my uncle…AAP disclosed that they offered me CM’s chair, did I accept it?”

Going back in nostalgia, Amarinder said, “I knew Sidhu family since his father was Patiala district party president and Sidhu was a little boy. He is like my son and I am happy that he is now part of us,” he said.

The Congress is set to face a tough electoral battle with the ruling SAD-BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party when the state goes to polls on February 4.

The major focus is on Lambi where Capt Amarinder is to take on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

“I moved in Malaut and Lambi constituency and got immense support. We are getting overwhelming response from everywhere and we are confident to win with a two-third majority to flush out the SAD-BJP and form our government,” he said.

Taking AAP as no threat, he said “Punjab is for Punjabis. How come ‘outsiders’ establish themselves and hold the reigns.