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HomePoliticsFormer IPS officer, diplomat, activist, philanthropist — AAP's hunt for its Punjab...

Former IPS officer, diplomat, activist, philanthropist — AAP’s hunt for its Punjab CM face

While party chief Arvind Kejriwal is reluctant to choose Bhagwant Mann, AAP's most visible face in Punjab, those the party wants don't seem interested in politics or AAP.

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Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seems to be in a bind over the projection of its chief ministerial face in Punjab. Its most visible face in the state is Bhagwant Mann, but AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is learnt to have reservations against his candidature. And those who the AAP high command is learnt to be keen on, seem not to be interested in joining politics.

Bhagwant Mann, AAP’s Punjab unit chief and MP, met Kejriwal in Delhi earlier this week to stake his claim as the party’s CM candidate in next year’s assembly election. But multiple sources in the party told ThePrint that Kejriwal was non-committal in his interaction with Mann. The AAP convenor is looking for a “more suitable” alternative, holding out only the promise of making Mann the deputy CM.

According to AAP leaders, several names have been in the zone of consideration of the party high command. The choice has ranged from farmer union leaders, environmental activists, former civil servants, police men and philanthropists.

“Though many names have been discussed, only a few have been considered seriously. The latest in the list is the state’s former DGP, N.P.S Aulakh,” said a senior state party leader.

Earlier in June, Kejriwal had announced that the party’s chief ministerial candidate will be from the Sikh community and a resident of the state.


Also read: Punjab’s next CM? Sidhu’s social media team is working hard to create that image


A cop, a diplomat & a philanthropist

A respected police officer, Aulakh is a 1972 batch IPS officer and became Punjab’s director general of police in 2007. In February 2009, he took over as chief of the National Security Guard (NSG), the first officer from Punjab to do so. Before joining as DGP, Aulakh was on central government deputation as special director general of the Border Security Force. Now retired, he lives in Chandigarh.

The former cop, however, made clear his disinterest in politics Thursday. “I have not been contacted by the AAP at all, nor am I interested in dabbling in politics. It is simply not my cup of tea. Let’s put it this way — politics needs a special skill set which I don’t have,” he told The Print.

Party sources said another name that had been under serious consideration was K.C. Singh, a retired diplomat who had served as India’s ambassador to Iran and the UAE. He was a batchmate of Aulakh in the IPS, but joined the IFS in 1974. K.C. Singh is also from Chandigarh and had studied in Panjab University. Apart from holding important assignments in the foreign office, Singh had also served as deputy secretary to President Giani Zail Singh.

Last month Singh launched the ‘Sanjha Sunehra Manch’, a non-political forum aimed at soliciting advice and feedback from urban and rural Punjabis on various issues to further dialogue. He too has expressed a disinterest in joining AAP.

“I don’t think much about the AAP and its leaders. And there is no way that I will join them politically,” Singh told ThePrint.

A third candidate believed to be on AAP’s list is Dubai-based businessman and philanthropist, S.P.S Oberoi.

In 2010, Oberoi had saved 17 Punjabi youths from the gallows in Dubai by paying ‘blood money’ in exchange for sparing their life. His charitable trust Sarbat Da Bhala has been at the forefront of working for Punjabis in trouble in foreign countries.

During the Covid pandemic, Oberoi was helping the Punjab government to meet the demand for medical equipment and oxygen, and also set up oxygen plants in the state. A recipient of multiple awards for philanthropy, Oberoi shuttles between Chandigarh and Dubai.

“The AAP was very keen to have him as CM candidate, but he refused. He is not interested in politics at all and does not want to join any political party. He wants to continue to do his work without any political affiliations,” his brother Gurjit Oberoi told ThePrint.


Also read: SAD’s old guard finds place in 1st list of candidates for Punjab polls, turncoats rewarded too


Also considered a water conservationist & a farm leader

Among others that are in AAP’s wish list of CM candidates is renowned water conservation activist Balbir Singh Seechewal. Known as ‘Eco Baba’, Seechewal pioneered the cleaning of rivers and canals in Punjab and revived the Kali Bein rivulet. He received the Padma Shri in 2007.

“Not just AAP, I am constantly asked by so many politicians to join their party. But I cannot. I cannot speak lies, I cannot be dishonest and I cannot make false promises. I am grateful that I have been put on this sewa, which I am doing and I want to continue with it,” he told ThePrint.

According to sources in AAP, farmer union leader Balbir Singh Rajewal was a candidate of interest, but the party was unable to wean him away from the ongoing agitation against the new farm laws.

(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)


Also read: AAP, Akali Dal leaders object to ‘unfair’ farmers’ appeal to put Punjab poll campaign on hold


 

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