29 December 2025 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Former Amritsar (East) MLA and suspended Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s recent political engagements with senior BJP leaders have triggered unease within the local BJP unit, particularly in the Amritsar (East) constituency. Her meetings with Union ministers and public remarks praising the central leadership of BJP have fuelled speculation about her possible entry into the BJP, drawing a sharp reaction from the party’s local leadership.
Reacting to Dr Sidhu’s recent meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, BJP’s Amritsar (East) in charge Jagmohan Singh Raju lodged a strong protest, accusing her of attempting to falsely claim credit for development works in the constituency. In a letter addressed to Gadkari, Raju objected to political misrepresentation by a suspended Congress leader.
In the letter, Raju stated that Dr Sidhu had met the Union minister, seeking intervention in the Vallah NHAI project while projecting Amritsar (East) as her constituency. He asserted that this claim was incorrect, pointing out that in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, it was her husband Navjot Singh Sidhu, who contested from Amritsar (East) as a Congress candidate and was defeated.
Raju further wrote that Sidhu, a former BJP leader, had deserted the party and remained among the most vocal critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised that allowing individuals who routinely abuse and criticise the Prime Minister to take credit for BJP-led development works was unacceptable and demoralising for loyal party workers.
The BJP leader underlined that he was the current in charge of Amritsar (East) and had himself contested the 2022 Assembly elections from the constituency on a BJP ticket against Navjot Singh Sidhu. He added that he had already made formal representations twice to the Union minister regarding the Vallah bypass issue.
“I strongly urge that no credit or legitimacy be allowed to Dr Sidhu, and that all development work in Amritsar (East) is clearly and rightfully attributed to the Prime Minister and the BJP,” Raju stated in his letter.
Dr Sidhu had met Gadkari two days ago and later shared photographs of the meeting, praising the Union minister for assuring prompt redress of Vallah bridge issue. She has also recently spoken positively about Union Home Minister Amit Shah, further intensifying speculation about her political future. Former IAS officer Raju, who remains active in Amritsar (East) politics, had contested the last Assembly election from the seat. In the same constituency, Sidhu had lost to Aam Aadmi Party candidate in 2022. Political observers note that if Dr Sidhu joins the BJP, she is likely to stake claim to the Amritsar (East) seat, something she has publicly hinted at in the past.
Dr Sidhu is currently suspended from the Congress following her controversial statement alleging a “Rs 500-crore price for the chief minister’s post”, which had drawn strong disapproval from the party leadership. Despite her suspension, she has continued to make sharp remarks against senior Congress leaders in Punjab, keeping her at the centre of political debate in the state.
Summary:
Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s recent outreach towards the BJP has stirred unease and speculation within political circles. The move has prompted senior leader Raju to formally write to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking clarity and raising concerns over the political implications of her actions. The development has triggered fresh debate about internal alignments and future strategies ahead of key political events.