18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

NEW DELHI, Feb 17: Former Indian cricketer and television commentator Navjot Siddhu, famous for his wisecracks, was drafted on Tuesday into the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to sizzle up its re-election campaign in cricket-mad India.

Sidhu, whose tongue-in-cheek comments have inspired internet compilations of "Sidhuisms," is likely to liberally use his catch-phrases to win votes for the Hindu nationalist BJP in the polls expected in April or May.

"Cricket and politics are two different things, but both can give happiness to people in different ways. I have come here to serve without setting any conditions," Siddhu told reporters after joining the party.

Once an explosive opener for the Indian cricket team, Sidhu has carried his fiery reputation off the field with remarks on prime-time television such as "the cricket score is running like an Indian taxi meter." -AFP