7 Punjab AAP MLAs raise banner of revolt, declare state unit ‘free’ from Delhi’s control

File photo of former AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira | Facebook

Led by former opposition leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, the rebel MLAs say they will create a third alternative in Punjab politics.

Chandigarh: Seven Aam Aadmi Party rebel MLAs in Punjab, led by former leader of the opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Thursday declared the state unit of the party “autonomous” and “free” from any control of the top brass in Delhi.

Addressing a huge gathering of party supporters and volunteers in Bathinda, the MLAs “disbanded” the party’s current organisational structure in Punjab and announced that a new structure would be put in place.

Speaking at the convention Khaira said the new state unit of AAP will “ally” with like-minded parties and individuals and emerge as a strong, third alternative in Punjab politics.

How the crisis began

Crisis in the party began last week after Khaira was removed as the leader of opposition on 26 July. He was replaced by Dirba MLA Harpal Singh Cheema. Protesting against the what he calls the “dictatorial manner of decision making” by the party’s Delhi team, nine MLAs (out of 20) led by Khaira joined hands and called a convention of party workers and volunteers in Bathinda.

Defying the central leadership’s diktat declaring the convention an “anti-party activity’, thousands of volunteers gathered in Bathinda Thursday. However, two MLAs — Jaikishan Rori and Rupinder Kaur Ruby — who were among the MLAs in the Khaira group, gave the convention a miss.

The appointment of the new leader of the opposition was also rejected at the convention and it was decided that a new incumbent be appointed after calling a meeting of Punjab AAP MLAs in Chandigarh within one week. It was also decided that the MLAs who had not participated in the convention should not be allowed to enter villages in their constituencies.

Also, the new unit will begin a district-wise outreach programme starting 12 August.

Khaira lambasts Delhi leaders

In his speech, Khaira launched a scathing attack on the party’s Delhi leadership, blaming it for their debacle in the assembly elections last year. He said it was due to the Delhi leadership’s “nalayaki” (incompetence) that good leaders from Punjab were thrown out.

“The AAP made so many promises, of a new Punjab, a prosperous Punjab, but that dream was lost because of their foolishness,” he said.

Without taking names he said two “subedars” of Delhi came and indulged in all sorts of things. “Allegations were levelled that they sold party tickets to candidates. They staked the future of Punjab for their ego. And even now, they continue to interfere in Punjab,” he said.

Khaira also took a dig at the party’s MLAs opposed to him. “Some of our own MLAs wanted me to fail. Before even the opposition parties could demand action against me, they would speak up,” he said.

Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu demanded an inquiry into the allegation of sale of tickets by the party’s Delhi leaders in the run-up to the assembly elections last year.

Sandhu read out six resolutions at the end of the convention which were passed unanimously by the volunteers. These include:

• The AAP Punjab Volunteers’ Convention unanimously declares the Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Party to be an autonomous body which will take its own decisions, have its own structure and make rules and regulations necessary for its functioning. Since the Punjab state body is a unit of the national party, it would keep the national body informed of its decisions.
• The Convention unanimously disbands with immediate effect the existing non-functional and defunct organisational structure, which has seriously eroded the party’s base and image in the state. The Convention also authorises the organisers of Thursday’s meeting to prepare the broad contours of the new organisational structure.
• The Convention highly applauds the valuable contribution of the NRIs for the betterment of Punjab. The convention requests the NRI brethren to continue their support for those who stand for Punjab.

What AAP leadership says 

The AAP’s reaction to the convention was an unexpectedly muted one. Co-president of AAP’s Punjab unit Balbir Singh said Thursday evening that the MLAs and state office-bearers have suggested to the central leadership not to take any disciplinary action against the rebel MLAs who attended the Bathinda convention.

“The MLAs and leaders who attended the convention at Bathinda are misguided. I hope they will fall in line in the coming days. These leaders are marching on the road that leads to nowhere,” he said in a statement issued in Chandigarh Thursday evening.

“Holding a convention under the banner of AAP without consulting the state and centre leadership is illegal and the leaders must avoid such activities in future,” Singh added.