Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns from BJP

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday formally resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party and said it was a "painful decision" for him.

"I hereby resign from the party membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party," Sidhu said in a tweet, in which he posted his hand-written letter to BJP national president Amit Shah.

"Long association, painful decision... my wife, children and party not alone Punjab. Punjab first, Punjab Punjabiyat and every Punjabi must win," he wrote.

Sidhu had on September 8 formally announced a new political front 'Awaaz-e-Punjab' saying that his fight was against the system and the leaders who had "ruined" Punjab -- putting an end to the speculation of him joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Meanwhile, a member of Sidhu's family told IANS that his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu would also resign from the party shortly after meeting the senior party leadership in Delhi.

"She would soon go to Delhi and meet senior leaders to submit her resignation," he added.