After Sidhu, Kirti Azad’s wife Poonam quits BJP

Those belonging to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s rival camp have decided to desert the BJP. First it was turn of Punjab politician Navjot Singh Sidhu to resign from the Rajya Sabha, on Tuesday it was turn of BJP leader Poonam Azad to quit. Azad is married to suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad, who had raised his voice against corruption in Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), which was headed by Jaitley for nearly a decade. Azad like Sidhu is a former India cricketer and was for one-term MLA in Delhi, before losing to former chief minister Sheila Dikshit from the erstwhile Gole Market seat. 

Thereafter he shifted base to Bihar and has represented Darbhanga seat in Lok Sabha several times. Poonam Azad once contested Delhi assembly polls in 2003 against Sheila Dikshit from the same Gole Market seat. Though she remained active in BJP organization, she was never again considered for ticket in either assembly, corporation or Parliament polls. She was assured a place on the Censor Board but when the final list appeared her name did not figure. Jaitley headed the Information and Broadcasting Ministry then. Azad to is likely to join Aam Admi Party, where she may be given a pan India responsibility and campaign on 20 seats in Punjab which have a sizeable Bihari population.