Editorji is a popular short video news and information platform based in India. It was founded in 2018 by Vikram Chandra, one of India’s leading journalists, and has risen to prominence in the digital news space in a relatively short span of time. The platform is primarily designed for mobile devices, with applications available for Android and iOS.

ABOUT US:

about us editorji

Latest Video News: Editorji provides the latest news video headlines, latest videos clip from India and the World. Get all breaking news videos on Entertainment, Business, Coronavirus, Elections, Politics and more.

Latest Video News, Breaking News, Bollywood, Political, Sports, Business News | Editorji

+91 11 4035 6666 / info@editorji.com
3rd floor, Plot B, Khasara no 360, Sultanpur, New Delhi, Delhi 110030
<a title="mail to us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Send Feedback</a>
<a title="Contact Us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Contact Us</a>

REACH US

Contact for any questions, suggestions, comments, feedback or advertisement on Editorji.com, we are always looking forward to hearing from you.

Contact Us for Feedback, Suggestions and Advertising 

Editorji content is better experienced in our app.

In a late-night relief, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed a fresh arrest warrant against BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga whose dramatic arrest by the Punjab Police and subsequent release triggered an intense political slugfest between the AAP and the BJP on Saturday.
Justice Anoop Chitkara took up Bagga's petition in an urgent hearing at his residence just before midnight and directed that no coercive steps be taken against him till May 10, hours after a Mohali court issued the non-bailable arrest warrant, the BJP leader's counsel Chetan Mittal said.
In the political arena, the slugfest between the AAP and the BJP escalated into protests and name-calling.
Back home in the early hours of Saturday, Bagga, surrounded by family members and friends at his Janakpuri residence, tore into the Aam Aadmi Party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal over his arrest, accusing him of pursuing political vendetta through police in Punjab.
"No matter one or 100 FIRs are registered against me, I will keep raising issues of dishonouring of the Guru Granth Sahib and Kejriwal's insult to Kashmiri Pandits," he said.
"They (the AAP) are attacking me because I am raising my voice against the AAP and its chief Kejriwal," he said.
BJP leaders also protested outside the residence of the Delhi Chief Minister, calling him a "dictator".
The AAP accused the BJP and its governments of protecting its "goon" who incited riots in Punjab.
Bagga's arrest in the case filed by AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia at Mohali on April 1 witnessed the Punjab Police pitted against their counterparts from Haryana and Delhi.
The Delhi Police has filed a case of kidnapping over his arrest. As Punjab Police was taking him to AAP-ruled state, they were stopped by their Haryana counterparts. Bagga was later brought to the national capital by the Delhi Police, taken to the DDU hospital as a Medico-Legal-Case (MLC) before being produced in front of a Dwarka court magistrate.
"The medical examination revealed injury marks on his body,” the Delhi Police said on Saturday. "Bagga expressed apprehension over his safety and security. We will do necessary security arrangements," a senior officer said.
Bagga claimed that while he was being taken to Punjab after his arrest, the police tried to persuade him not to raise issues pertaining to dishonouring of Guru Granth Sahib and 'The Kashmir Files' movie. "They told me why I was getting myself involved with matters of other state when I lived in Delhi." Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta alleged that with Bagga's arrest, it was clear that the Aam Aadmi Party's national convener had "misused" the Punjab Police for personal benefit.
"Kejriwal is a dictator. What was Bagga's crime? He just asked for Kejriwal's clarification on his remarks on '(The) Kashmir Files'. He was not allowed to wear a turban during the arrest," he said. "The BJP will not tolerate the insult to the turban." The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) also sought a report from Punjab chief secretary within seven days on allegations that Bagga was not allowed to wear a turban while being arrested by Punjab police.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged the entire BJP and its governments are engaged in saving one of their "goons who spoke against the brotherhood in Punjab and incited riots".
"The BJP is a party of goons which makes even its government do the job of goons. Never even by mistake, these people talk about education, health, inflation and unemployment," he tweeted in Hindi.
But even as Bagga and the BJP launched tirades against the AAP, a court in Mohali issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Bagga for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and criminal intimidation), among other charges.
The arrest warrant was issued by the court of Judicial Magistrate Ravtesh Inderjit Singh.
In its order, the court said, "Keeping in view the contents of the application and the fact that sufficient opportunities have already been granted to the accused to join the investigation and despite that accused has failed to join the investigation, it is necessary in the interest of justice, to issue non-bailable warrants of accused Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga for 23.05.2022, who is evading arrest, in order to facilitate the investigation." Soon after, Bagga moved the high court and secured relief.
Also, the Punjab government Saturday moved two applications before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking the Centre and the Delhi Police chief be made parties to the arrest case, and that the May 6 CCTV footage of Janakpuri and Kurukshetra police stations be preserved.
The Punjab government has alleged that its police personnel were "detained" at Janakpuri and Kurukshetra police stations when they had gone to arrest Bagga.
After the hearing, the Delhi Police counsel alleged the Punjab Police did not follow laid down procedure while arresting Bagga, a claim rejected by the Pujab government counsel.
"The Punjab Police did not consult us or inform us before taking Mr Bagga into custody. Those who had gone there (to Bagga's home in Delhi) they were also not in uniform, they were in plainclothes," said Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain, who represented the Delhi Police.
Punjab government counsel Poneet Bali told reporters outside the high court on Saturday that Bagga was served notices on five occasions, but he did not respond.
"The Punjab police has every right to arrest an accused," he said.
The hearing in the case was adjourned for May 10.
While referring to the kidnapping complaint, the counsel claimed the Delhi Police obtained a search warrant from a court without disclosing the fact that Bagga is an accused in a case and he has been arrested.
"So, whatever is the future course of action as far as Mr Bagga is concerned will definitely be taken." The ruling AAP's chief spokesperson for Punjab Malvinder Singh Kang claimed Bagga was a habitual offender. Her alleged Bagga faced more than 20 cases in Delhi, West Bengal and Chattisgarh.
"Such anti-social elements should get punishment as per the law of the land, but unfortunately the country's government is coming out in his support," he alleged.
"...This country will run according to law, Constitution, and not in an autocratic manner," Kang said.
The Congress also entered the debate with its leader P Chidambaram saying police serving their political masters will lead to the "ultimate breakdown" of federalism.

Court says no coercive steps against Tajinder Bagga; AAP-BJP exchange barbs

Relief for Bagga at midnight as court says no coercive action until May 10. Meanwhile the political slugfest over Tajinder Bagga's arrest continues

Late-night relief for Bagga, court stays arrest warrant, says no coercive steps till may 10; political slugfest&nbsp;over Bagga's&nbsp;arrest continues

In a late-night relief, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed a fresh arrest warrant against BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga whose dramatic arrest by the Punjab Police and subsequent release triggered an intense political slugfest between the AAP and the BJP on Saturday.
Justice Anoop Chitkara took up Bagga's petition in an urgent hearing at his residence just before midnight and directed that no coercive steps be taken against him till May 10, hours after a Mohali court issued the non-bailable arrest warrant, the BJP leader's counsel Chetan Mittal said.
In the political arena, the slugfest between the AAP and the BJP escalated into protests and name-calling.
Back home in the early hours of Saturday, Bagga, surrounded by family members and friends at his Janakpuri residence, tore into the Aam Aadmi Party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal over his arrest, accusing him of pursuing political vendetta through police in Punjab.
"No matter one or 100 FIRs are registered against me, I will keep raising issues of dishonouring of the Guru Granth Sahib and Kejriwal's insult to Kashmiri Pandits," he said.
"They (the AAP) are attacking me because I am raising my voice against the AAP and its chief Kejriwal," he said.
BJP leaders also protested outside the residence of the Delhi Chief Minister, calling him a "dictator".
The AAP accused the BJP and its governments of protecting its "goon" who incited riots in Punjab.
Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/from-attack-on-prashant-bhushan-to-trolling-deepika-padukone-a-brief-history-of-tajinder-bagga-1651871030690" target="_blank">From attack on Prashant Bhushan to trolling Deepika Padukone: a brief history of Tajinder Bagga</a>
Bagga's arrest in the case filed by AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia at Mohali on April 1 witnessed the Punjab Police pitted against their counterparts from Haryana and Delhi.
The Delhi Police has filed a case of kidnapping over his arrest. As Punjab Police was taking him to AAP-ruled state, they were stopped by their Haryana counterparts. Bagga was later brought to the national capital by the Delhi Police, taken to the DDU hospital as a Medico-Legal-Case (MLC) before being produced in front of a Dwarka court magistrate.
"The medical examination revealed injury marks on his body,&rdquo; the Delhi Police said on Saturday. "Bagga expressed apprehension over his safety and security. We will do necessary security arrangements," a senior officer said.
Bagga claimed that while he was being taken to Punjab after his arrest, the police tried to persuade him not to raise issues pertaining to dishonouring of Guru Granth Sahib and 'The Kashmir Files' movie. "They told me why I was getting myself involved with matters of other state when I lived in Delhi." Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta alleged that with Bagga's arrest, it was clear that the Aam Aadmi Party's national convener had "misused" the Punjab Police for personal benefit.
"Kejriwal is a dictator. What was Bagga's crime? He just asked for Kejriwal's clarification on his remarks on '(The) Kashmir Files'. He was not allowed to wear a turban during the arrest," he said. "The BJP will not tolerate the insult to the turban." The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) also sought a report from Punjab chief secretary within seven days on allegations that Bagga was not allowed to wear a turban while being arrested by Punjab police.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged the entire BJP and its governments are engaged in saving one of their "goons who spoke against the brotherhood in Punjab and incited riots".
"The BJP is a party of goons which makes even its government do the job of goons. Never even by mistake, these people talk about education, health, inflation and unemployment," he tweeted in Hindi.
Also Watch| <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/from-attack-on-prashant-bhushan-to-trolling-deepika-padukone-a-brief-history-of-tajinder-bagga-1651871030690" target="_blank">From attack on Prashant Bhushan to trolling Deepika Padukone: a brief history of Tajinder Bagga</a>
But even as Bagga and the BJP launched tirades against the AAP, a court in Mohali issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Bagga for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and criminal intimidation), among other charges.
The arrest warrant was issued by the court of Judicial Magistrate Ravtesh Inderjit Singh.
In its order, the court said, "Keeping in view the contents of the application and the fact that sufficient opportunities have already been granted to the accused to join the investigation and despite that accused has failed to join the investigation, it is necessary in the interest of justice, to issue non-bailable warrants of accused Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga for 23.05.2022, who is evading arrest, in order to facilitate the investigation." Soon after, Bagga moved the high court and secured relief.
Also, the Punjab government Saturday moved two applications before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking the Centre and the Delhi Police chief be made parties to the arrest case, and that the May 6 CCTV footage of Janakpuri and Kurukshetra police stations be preserved.
The Punjab government has alleged that its police personnel were "detained" at Janakpuri and Kurukshetra police stations when they had gone to arrest Bagga.
After the hearing, the Delhi Police counsel alleged the Punjab Police did not follow laid down procedure while arresting Bagga, a claim rejected by the Pujab government counsel.
"The Punjab Police did not consult us or inform us before taking Mr Bagga into custody. Those who had gone there (to Bagga's home in Delhi) they were also not in uniform, they were in plainclothes," said Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain, who represented the Delhi Police.
Punjab government counsel Poneet Bali told reporters outside the high court on Saturday that Bagga was served notices on five occasions, but he did not respond.
"The Punjab police has every right to arrest an accused," he said.
The hearing in the case was adjourned for May 10.
While referring to the kidnapping complaint, the counsel claimed the Delhi Police obtained a search warrant from a court without disclosing the fact that Bagga is an accused in a case and he has been arrested.
"So, whatever is the future course of action as far as Mr Bagga is concerned will definitely be taken." The ruling AAP's chief spokesperson for Punjab Malvinder Singh Kang claimed Bagga was a habitual offender. Her alleged Bagga faced more than 20 cases in Delhi, West Bengal and Chattisgarh.
"Such anti-social elements should get punishment as per the law of the land, but unfortunately the country's government is coming out in his support," he alleged.
"...This country will run according to law, Constitution, and not in an autocratic manner," Kang said.
The Congress also entered the debate with its leader P Chidambaram saying police serving their political masters will lead to the "ultimate breakdown" of federalism.
Also Watch|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/ghar-wapsi-tajinder-bagga-released-after-being-produced-before-a-magistrate-at-midnight-1651895278192" target="_blank">'Ghar Wapsi': Tajinder Bagga released after being produced before a magistrate at midnight</a>

UP Election 2022: RPN Singh is the latest high profile exit from Team Rahul Gandhi after Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada switched to the BJP.

UP Election 2022: Another defection from Team Rahul Gandhi, RPN Singh quits Congress to join BJP

UP Election 2022: Another defection from Team Rahul, RPN Singh quits Congress to join BJP

Former UPA minister, senior Congress leader RPN Singh joins BJP

Former UPA&nbsp;minister, senior Cong leader RPN Singh&nbsp;joins BJP
Another high-profile exit from Team Rahul after Scindia, Prasada
BJP&nbsp;may field RPN&nbsp;Singh&nbsp;against Swami Prasad&nbsp;Maurya
RPN&nbsp;Singh&nbsp;was listed as Cong star campaigner for UP polls

RPN&nbsp;Singh&nbsp;is the latest high profile exit from Team Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi after Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada switched to the BJP.

UP Election 2022: In a big jolt to the already fledgling Congress in UP, former union minister and party's leader from Eastern Uttar Pradesh RPN Singh joined the BJP today.
RPN&nbsp;Singh is the latest high profile exit from Team Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi after Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada switched to the BJP.
Incidentally RPN Singh was listed as Congress star campaigner in the list released by the party on Monday.
RPN Singh is likely to be fielded by the BJP from Padraun against the defector <a href="https://www.editorji.com/elections/up-elections/up-election-2022-arrest-warrant-against-obc-leader-a-day-after-he-quit-team-yogi-1642043758600" target="_blank">Swami Prasad Maurya</a> who recently switched to SP from BJP.
RPN Singh is the 3-term MLA from Padrauna&nbsp;and a former MP from Kushinagar.
He won Padrauna Assembly seat in 1996, 2002 and 2007. RPN was elected to Lok Sabha from Kushinagar in 2009. He lost in 2014 and 2019.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/elections/up-elections/why-up-minister-quit-bjp-joined-sp-weeks-before-polls-1641910490701" target="_blank">UP poll twist: As BJP loses 5 MLAs to SP, will OBC neta Maurya spoil Yogi's caste arithmetic formula?</a>&nbsp;
The son of former MP and Padraunna royal CPN Singh, RPN Singh was the Minister of State for Home in the UPA 2 government. He was also Jahrkhand incharge of the Congress.

In a big embarrassment for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, the face of the Priyanka Gandhi's "Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign for Uttar Pradesh is set to join the BJP.
Priyanka Maurya who featured on the posters of the Congress' women-centric campaign has hit out the party for denying her election ticket.
Maurya has alleged that the Congress used her face and her social media following to popularise its "Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign, but refused her ticket.
The campaign poster girl also alleged rigging in Congress poll ticket distribution and denial of tickets to OBC candidates. She hit out at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for running the campaign in the name of women, but doing little to help them. Priyanka Maurya was seen at the BJP office in Lucknow on Wednesday and said that she will join the saffron party.
The Congress has refuted Priyanka Maurya's allegations and insisted that tickets have been given only on merit.

UP Election 2022: Congress 'ladki hoon lad sakti hoon' campaign poster girl joins BJP

Big loss of face for Congress ahead of UP polls, poster girl of Priyanka Gandhi's 'ladki hoon lad sakti hoon' campaign joins BJP

Congress 'ladki hoon lad sakti hoon' campaign poster girl joins BJP

Big loss of face for Congress ahead of UP polls
"Ladki hoon lad sakti hoon" poster girl joins&nbsp;BJP
Priyanka&nbsp;Maurya&nbsp;hits out at Cong for denying ticket
Priyanka&nbsp;Maurya: Cong used my face, SM following
Cong rejects charge, insists tickets given on merit

UP Election 2022: Denied Congress ticket, Priyanka&nbsp;Maurya has hit out at party general secretary Priyanka&nbsp;Gandhi

In a big embarrassment&nbsp;for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, the face of the Priyanka Gandhi's "Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign for Uttar Pradesh has join the BJP.
Priyanka Maurya who featured on the posters of the Congress' women-centric campaign has hit out the party for denying her election ticket.
Maurya has alleged that the Congress used her face and her social media following to popularise its "Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign, but refused her ticket.
Also watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/elections/up-elections/up-election-2022-songs-remixes-rap-battles-the-very-musical-fight-for-uttar-pradesh-1642498844500" target="_blank">UP Election 2022: Songs, Remixes, Rap battles - the very musical fight for Uttar Pradesh</a>
The campaign poster girl also alleged rigging in Congress poll ticket distribution and denial of tickets to OBC candidates. She hit out at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for running the campaign in the name of women, but doing little to help them. The Congress has refuted Priyanka Maurya's allegations and insisted that tickets have been given only on merit.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday, launched an attack on the government on the Centre over the killings of civilians in an Army operation in Nagaland.
“This is heart-wrenching. GoI must give a real reply,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
He further questioned: “What exactly is the home ministry doing when neither civilians nor security personnel are safe in our own land?”
Also watch: At least 13 civilians gunned down by security forces in Nagaland
Thirteen people, including a jawan, died in a firing incident between Oting and Tiru villages in Nagaland's Mon district on Saturday evening. The incident allegedly took place when a group of laborers on board a pick-up truck was on its way from Tiru village. 
While regretting the killings, the army in a statement said that the security forces have suffered severe injuries in the incident including one soldier who succumbed to the injuries.

Nagaland killings: Rahul Gandhi questions home ministry

Opposition leaders launched an attack on the government over the killings of13 civilians in an Army operation in Nagaland.

Opposition mounts attack on Centre over Nagaland civilian killings

Opposition leaders launched an attack on the government over the killings of civilians in an Army operation in Nagaland.
Calling the killings heart wrenching,&nbsp;Congress leader Rahul Gandhi without naming Amit&nbsp;Shah,&nbsp;asked what was the country's home ministry doing.
He said neither civilians nor security personnel are safe in India. His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra&nbsp;said in a tweet that the victims deserve justice.&nbsp;
Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sought a thorough probe and called for justice to the kin of those killed in firing.
President of the AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi also tweeted his condolences while calling for Home Minister Amit Shah's sacking.
Thirteen people, including a jawan, died in a firing incident between Oting and Tiru villages in Nagaland's Mon district on Saturday evening. The incident allegedly took place when a group of labourers on board&nbsp;a pick-up truck was on its way from Tiru village.
While regretting the killings, the army in a statement said that the&nbsp;security forces have suffered severe injuries in the incident including one soldier who succumbed to the injuries.

&ldquo;This is heart-wrenching. GoI must give a real reply,&rdquo; Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.

Opposition leaders launched an attack on the government over the killings of civilians in an Army operation in Nagaland.
&ldquo;This is heart-wrenching. GoI must give a real reply,&rdquo; Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
He further questioned: &ldquo;What exactly is the home ministry doing when neither civilians nor security personnel are safe in our own land?&rdquo;
Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it is a "worrisome" news. "We must ensure a thorough probe into the incident and ensure that all victims get justice," Banerjee added.
Also watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/at-least-11-civilians-gunned-down-by-security-forces-in-nagaland-1638678827195" target="_blank">At least 13 civilians gunned down by security forces in Nagaland</a>
While President of the AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi also tweeted his condolences, calling for Home Minister Amit Shah's sacking.
Thirteen people, including a jawan, died in a firing incident between Oting and Tiru villages in Nagaland's Mon district on Saturday evening. The incident allegedly took place when a group of labourers on board&nbsp;a pick-up truck was on its way from Tiru village.
While regretting the killings, the army in a statement said that the&nbsp;security forces have suffered severe injuries in the incident including one soldier who succumbed to the injuries.

Controversy's own child Navjot Singh Sidhu has yet again stirred a political row. But know for his oratory, the cricketer-turned-politician has been caught on the wrong side of the politics on a number of occasions. Here is a timeline of rows to remember.

Sidhu stirs political storm: potshots, punches and political u-turns -- rows to remember 

Controversy's own child Navjot Singh Sidhu has yet again stirred a political row. But known for his oratory, the cricketer-turned-politician has been caught on the wrong side of the politics on a number of occasions. Here is a timeline of rows to remember.  

Yet another Sidhu row: a timeline of potshots, punches and political u-turns

Navjot&nbsp;Singh&nbsp;Sidhu has been a sportsperson, an entertainer and a politician. And whatever he has done, he has hogged the limelight, and controversy and drama have been his two loyal friends.

Controversy's own child Navjot Singh Sidhu has yet again stirred a political row. But known for his oratory, the cricketer-turned-politician has been caught on the wrong side of politics on a number of occasions. Here is a timeline of rows to remember.
Nearly five years ago when he joined the Congress, ex-cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu had said he is a "born Congressman" now coming back to his roots. But on Tuesday, he bowled a googly at his party by resigning as its Punjab unit chief.
The maverick-triggered political developments saw one of the party's tallest leaders Amarinder Singh forced to quit as chief minister just over a week ago.
Barely days, after Charanjit Singh Channi took over as the Punjab CM and on a day portfolio,&nbsp;were given to members of the new state Cabinet, 57-year-old Sidhu's resignation came as a jolt to the party, with the Assembly elections just less than five months away.
At the time he switched over to the Congress from the BJP before the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Sidhu had said he is a "born Congressman", who came back to his roots. Sidhu had said he would be ready to work under anybody appointed by the high command and contest from where the party wants him to.
It is premature to talk about the issue, Sidhu had then said when asked whether he would like to be the chief ministerial candidate of the party.
Four-and-a-half years later, the rift between Sidhu and party leader Amarinder Singh escalated to such a level, resulting in a 79-year-old Congress veteran stepping down as chief minister, who said he felt "humiliated" over the way the party handled the protracted crisis.
Amarinder Singh, who had called Sidhu "dangerous" and "anti-national", while reacting over his resignation, again took a dig at him and said, "I told you so, he is not a stable man, not fit for the border state of Punjab." Donning many hats from cricketer, commentator, TV show host, Sidhu, who also remained a four-time MP, has always maintained that for him Punjab comes first.
Sidhu's father Bhagwant Singh was the district president of the Congress in Patiala and it was his wish to see him play cricket at the international level.
Sidhu made his debut in first-class cricket in 1981-82 and later went on to earn the sobriquet of "sixer Sidhu" for his powerful stroke play.
In 2004, Sidhu began his political innings contesting the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket from Amritsar, where he shifted his base from Patiala, and in his first election defeated Congress heavyweight R L Bhatia.
When he was in the BJP, Sidhu had sour relations with the Badal family despite the SAD then being an ally of the BJP. Later his ties with BJP also turned cold when the party fielded senior leader Arun Jaitley from Amritsar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Though he was accommodated in the Rajya Sabha later, he quit the party to join the Congress.
Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur, who was sitting MLA from Amritsar (East), made way for him to contest the seat in 2017.
Just before his joining the Congress, Sidhu had floated a front &ldquo;Awaaz-e-Punjab&rdquo; but it was soon shelved.
When the Congress returned to power with an overwhelming majority in 2017, it was being speculated that Sidhu would be made the deputy chief minister, but he was made a cabinet minister.
As Sidhu and Amarinder Singh's relations never remained cordial, the latter changed his portfolio from the local bodies to Power, but the cricketer-turned-politician resigned in protest.
From the time he quit his Cabinet in 2019 till early 2021, Sidhu maintained a low profile. However, once he was back in the thick of things a few months ago, he not only took on the opposition but repeatedly kept on making veiled attacks on the chief minister over a host of issues.
In July, Sidhu was appointed as the new president of the party's Punjab unit, notwithstanding the strong opposition from Amarinder Singh.
The appointment of Sidhu and four other leaders as working presidents of the state unit came after days of internal squabbling and public bickering that divided the state unit between two factions owing allegiance to Singh and Sidhu.
With his elevation as the state Congress chief, the party leadership clearly signalled to put its weight behind Sidhu while ignoring Amarinder Singh's opposition.
The support of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also helped in Sidhu clinching the post despite strong resistance.
Sidhu's ability to pull crowds and launch a vigorous campaign appeared to have worked in his favour.
Sidhu can win an election even in Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan had once said when the Congress leader went to that country to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Khan.
Sidhu was later criticised for hugging Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the high-profile event.
Though Sidhu earned the wrath for his visit to Pakistan, the Amritsar legislator was hailed by many for his role in the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, enabling devotees especially Sikhs to offer prayers at the historic gurdwara in the neighbouring nation.
The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district.

congess

Categories