CHANDIGARH – In a move that threatens to disrupt the established political trifecta of Punjab, Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu officially unveiled her new political vehicle, the Bharatiya Rashtravadi Party (BRP), during an assertive press interaction at the Chandigarh Press Club on Wednesday.
Making her first major move since her expulsion from the Congress party earlier this year, Dr. Sidhu declared that the BRP would field candidates in all 117 assembly constituencies for the upcoming 2027 elections.
The “Third Way”: Rejecting the Status Quo
Addressing the media, Dr. Sidhu revealed that while she had been courted by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), she chose to bypass established political giants in favour of a fresh platform.
“I chose the Bharatiya Rashtravadi Party because I want to invest in meaningful work, not in the massive financial contributions that major parties demand for tickets,” Sidhu stated.
She emphasized that her party would prioritize “performance over patronage,” promising a cabinet where portfolios are assigned based on professional expertise rather than political seniority.
Bold Policy: Opium Legalization and the War on Drugs
In perhaps her most controversial policy stance, Dr. Sidhu proposed the legalization of controlled opium cultivation in Punjab.
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Economic Strategy: She argued that legal cultivation would provide farmers with a high-value alternative crop.
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Crime Prevention: By bringing production under state regulation, she believes the government can dismantle the illicit trafficking networks that currently dominate the black market.
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Holistic Recovery: Beyond law enforcement, she advocated for a state-wide mental health initiative, targeting the psychological roots of substance abuse through counselling and community support.
A Vision for Healthcare and Education
Dr. Sidhu levelled sharp criticism at the current administration’s handling of public infrastructure. She raised serious questions regarding the “shoddy” working methods of contractors currently managing development projects across the state.
If the BRP forms the government, she pledged that Education and Healthcare would receive the highest budgetary priority.
“While people in Punjab are receiving treatment, no one is addressing the root causes of the diseases plaguing our population,” she remarked, pointing toward environmental factors and systemic neglect as the true enemies of public health.
The “Sidhu” Factor
Naturally, questions regarding her husband, former PCC Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, loomed large. Dr. Sidhu clarified that while she is forging her own path with the BRP, her husband remains currently unaffiliated with any political party, having distanced himself from Congress activities following the 2022 electoral cycle.
As the BRP prepares its ground-level machinery, Dr. Sidhu’s entry marks a high-stakes gamble to provide a “Nationalist” alternative to a state currently caught between the AAP’s governance and the resurgence of traditional regional players.
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