Facing troubled waters, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will start his four-day Punjab tour from Thursday to keep his party’s ship afloat ahead 2017 polls.
The party is currently in deep water over numerous issues including removing Sucha Singh Chhotepur as state convener, brewing dissidence over distribution of tickets, allegations of sexual exploitation, among others.
Kejriwal, during his visit, is expected to meet party volunteers, workers, including those who are “angry over not getting party tickets”, amid “growing voices of rebel” and allegations of exploitation of women which could threaten to wreck the party’s ship in high-octane 2017 assembly polls.
“He will meet volunteers, observers, workers. He will also meet those who are unhappy over not getting party tickets. He will hear out anyone who has any grievance with the party,” AAP’s Punjab Co-convenor and MlA in Delhi Assembly Jarnail Singh said.
He said: “He wants to say that he is in Punjab and do not worry. If you have any problem or grievance, I am here to listen to you.”
Kejriwal’s visit assumes significance as the AAP was facing “crisis” after Chhotepur was removed as party’s Punjab convener for allegedly accepting money on the basis of a sting video.
Chhotepur received “huge support” from party volunteers in the state and has now been undertaking ‘Punjab Parivartan Yatra’ and meeting volunteers to suggest him the future course of action.
AAP-Punjab’s former convener had even claimed that out of 32 declared party nominees, 25 were facing “stiff opposition” from party volunteers so far.
Six out of 13 party’s zonal coordinators had even decided to support Chhotepur.
AAP’s ‘rebel’ workers had even accused party’s senior leadership of sidelining Punjab leaders and threatened to show black flags to Kejriwal when he would visit the state.
The sexual exploitation allegations, by its own leaders, have also bogged down the party, coupled with the controversial actions of its popular MP Bhagwant Mann.
AAP’s two sitting MPs — Dr Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala and Harinder Khalsa from Fatehgarh Sahib — have also been criticizing their own party opver one issue or the other.
What is more, the formation of ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ front by cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu along with MlAs Pargat Singh and Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Bains, may also be a concern for the AAP.
After reaching ludhiana by 12 noon, Delhi Chief Minister will stay at the house of party’s volunteer at Chhande village in ludhiana from September 8 till 10. There, he will hold meetings with party’s candidates for 2017 polls, besides volunteers and party workers.
He will continue to hold meetings with AAP volunteers, workers and party supporters at the same place on the next day. Besides, Kejriwal will also have interaction with the teachers and doctors in Patiala on September 10.
On September 11, Kejriwal will visit Dhudike village to pay respect to martyr lala lajpat Rai. On the same day, he will release farmers' manifesto in Bhaga Purana near Moga, before leaving for Amritsar for a night halt and eventually pushing off back to Delhi next morning.