Even as the efforts are being made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) high command to win over its disgruntled and sacked leaders in the wake of prevailing turmoil the party is facing in Punjab, its ‘rebel’ faction on Tuesday declared that none of them have been approached “so far”.
In fact, it has decided to take the initiative, and resolve the issue but on its own terms. The rebel faction, comprising eight out of total 20 MLAs led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, has set up a five-member committee to resolve the internal differences within AAP’s Punjab unit.
“Despite announcements in the media, none of the seven MLAs with me have been approached so far,” said Khaira.
Making an announcement to this effect, Khaira said that the five committee members — including Kanwar Sandhu, Nazar Singh Mansahia, Baldev Singh, Jagdev Singh (all MLAs) and Suresh Sharma — will hold discussions with other members to resolve the differences over autonomy for the state unit and other matters.
At the same time, it has been made amply clear that the basis of talks, if any, with AAP leadership will be “on the basis of six resolutions passed at the AAP’s Volunteers’ Convention at Bathinda on August 2”.
AAP ‘rebel’ faction came into being soon after Khaira was unceremoniously removed from the post of the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha, while replacing him with Dirba MLA Harpal Singh Cheema “without consulting all the party MLAs”.
Khaira was backed by seven MLAs, and the group raised the demand for complete autonomy to party’s state unit.
At Bathinda convention, convened by Khaira-led faction, six resolutions were passed including declaring AAP’s Punjab unit free from Delhi bosses, dissolving current organizational structure in the state, and setting up a new one for which it has set up an eight-member political affairs committee (PAC).
The divide between the two has become so apparent that the party is being run by two parallel power centres — one led by Khaira and other owing allegiance to Delhi Durbar.
Seeing AAP’s declining graph in Punjab, AAP has chalked out a strategy to win over its displeased-cum-rebel leaders including the former state party convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur.
As a part of the same, the party has approached Chhotepur, who had floated his own party — Apna Punjab Party (APP) — ahead 2017 Punjab assembly elections after being expelled on corruption charges. During his meeting with Harpal Singh Cheema and AAP state co-president Dr Balbir Singh, Chhotepur lashed out at the Delhi leadership while also backing Khaira-led faction;s demand for autonomy.
The party’s senior leader Sanjay Singh had also met party’s Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, who has been under suspension since 2015 for “anti-party activities” but vigorously raising Punjab-related issues in the Parliament. However, Dr Gandhi too batted for autonomy for the state unit.
It was also announced that efforts would be made to win over its rebel MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and the seven legislators supporting him. But, Khaira’s statement has put a question mark of AAP leadership’s commitment to resolve prevailing infighting.
Party has total of four MPs from Punjab, out of which two — Dr Gandhi and Harjinder Singh Khalsa — have been placed under suspension since 2015. Out of total of 20 MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha, eight have revolted against the party.
The division has created confusion among the party cadre as the rebel faction has set up its own political affairs committee, and an ad-hoc state executive headed by Khaira, besides undoing the decision of the state AAP unit and projecting itself as the “real AAP”.
