Jalandhar(Parteek Singh): The apology of Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor formed rift within AAP MLAs of Punjab. Now it will be interesting to see whether AAP Punjab leadership will rise on their own or it will surrender in front of Delhi high command. The Aam Aadmi Party’s whole poll campaign was based on a war against drugs and corruption and number of Punjabis followed the call of party’s supremo.The latest episode of its national convener Arvind Kejriwal tendering a written apology to Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia for leveling drug trade allegations against him has placed the Punjab unit in a tight spot in public domain. Kejriwal’s apology now stands as a mockery of the people who followed him and faced actions against them. Now, the Punjab AAP leaders’ status is on stakes as workers want them to take stand against the AAP national convenor’s apology move.
Where on one side Khaira group, which includes LoP Punjab Sukhpal Singh Khaira along with 12 more MLAs stood against this step of AAP supremo and another group of 5, from which Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur, MLA Ropar Amarjit Singh Sandoa, Kotkapura MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan have already joined in Delhi for a party meeting.
Yesterday meeting was held in Chandigarh where all AAP MLAs of Punjab had reached. At least 5 members took the stand of being in favour of the party including former AAP Punjab Co-Convenor Aman Arora, Baljinder Kaur, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Amarjit Sandoa and Jagraon MLA Saravjit Kaur Manuke. While on out of 20 MLAs of AAP 13 are in favour of getting Punjab unit free from Delhi high command, while 5 are yet with the party and HS Phoolka and Harpal Singh Cheema are not yet clear with the decision.
While talking with Daily Post correspondent LoP Sukhpal Singh Khaira said that we are waiting for the response of Delhi high command and not taking any step towards the formation of a front. Meanwhile, most of the AAP Punjab leaders including MLAs refused to attend the March 18 meeting called by the party’s Punjab affairs in charge and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. He said the leaders demand that meeting should be conducted in Punjab only. The stand apparently reflected the Punjab leadership’s aspirations for autonomy.
Apart from this, senior leaders of Aam Aadmi Party had reached the ground level to get the confidence of the local party workers in the state. Proving this, an activity of AAP SC wing president Dev Mann was seen in Jalandhar conducting meetings with the workers. According to information national leadership is using all ways to stop scattering of the party.
