Sidhu to file nomination tomorrow

Amritsar, Jan 24 (UNI) Cricketer-turned-politician and BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu will file his nomination papers for the Amritsar Parliamentary by-election here tomorrow.

Talking to reporters after holding a meeting with his supporters here today, Sidhu said he had deferred his decision to file the nomination by a day, as the Supreme Court's order granting a stay on his conviction in a road rage case was yet to reach him. ''The apex court's verdict will reach tonight and I will file the papers tomorrow,'' he said.

According to BJP sources, party National General Secretary Arun Jaitley, who is also in-charge of Punjab, is expected to reach here tonight with the relevant papers which have to be submitted at the time of filing of nominations. Mr Jaitley will accompany Sidhu tomorrow, the last day for filing papers.

Exuding confidence, the former cricketer said, '' We will win the Amritsar seat and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance will capture power in the state. The Congress will certainly be defeated.'' The Amritsar Parlaimentary seat was vacated by Sidhu following his conviction in a road rage case by the Punjab and Haryana High court on December six. The apex court stayed his conviction yesterday, paving the way for him to contest the by-election.

After the Supreme Court's verdict, the BJP ''rewarded'' Sidhu by nominating his close aide Sunil Joshi from the Amritsar North seat, ignoring the claims of veteran leader and former minister Balramji Dass Tandon. The apex court's verdict came as a shot in the arm for the BJP as Sidhu is their star campaigner.

Meanwhile, Congress candidate and Finance Minister Surinder Singla, who faces an uphill task of taking on Sidhu in the by-election, will also file his nomination papers tomorrow.

UNI