Sidhu says his absence in Amritsar might have helped Jaitley

Arriving in the city a day after polling ended, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was denied a ticket by BJP for re-election to Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, today said his absence might have helped party nominee Arun Jaitley.
Sidhu, who won this Lok Sabha seat thrice in a row for BJP, shared an uneasy relation with ruling ally Shiromani Akali Dal prompting his replacement with Jaitley.
The cricketer-turned-politician did not canvass for Jaitley even once since the election process began and arrived here only a day after the polling ended in the constituency.
When asked on this, Sidhu said his absence might have gone in favor of Jaitley.

He, however, added that even though he could not cast his vote, his wife and friends voted in favour of Jaitley.
"I am still a loyal soldier of the party and would bow before each decision of the party high command," he said.
Sidhu was here for a function organised for his newly constructed house in Amritsar.
Jaitley is pitted against Congress rival Amarinder Singh from Amritsar in his first Lok Sabha elections, polling for which took place yesterday.