Amidst the talks of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) joining hands with the Congress in the national capital for Lok Sabha elections, the party’s rebel leaders has warned the high command against the same arguing that it would impact the party in Punjab.
AAP is the principal opposition party in Punjab where Congress has wrested power in 2017 assembly polls.
Even as the Congress’ State leadership has all along been refusing to forge an alliance with AAP in Punjab, the talks between the leadership of the two parties in Delhi has been fueling the possibilities of the same.
There were reports that besides Delhi, the Congress and AAP may enter into an alliance for Haryana and Punjab too. However, the Congress party has clarified that there would be no alliance in the two states, while the parties are also yet reach a decision on stitching an alliance in the national capital.
Unhappy with the development, the party’s rebel leaders has warned the AAP leadership from joining hands with the Congress, against which the party is fighting on several issues in Punjab.
AAP’s rebel MLAs — Kanwar Sandhu, Nazar Singh Mansahia, Pirmal Singh Khalsa, Jagtar Singh Hissowal and Jagdev Singh Kamalu — maintained that by tying up with Congress, AAP would turn into a laughing stock in Punjab.
They have also warned the party leadership that AAP, that stunned the traditional political players like Congress and SAD-BJP during 2014 parliamentary polls all alone by bagging four seats, would end in Punjab.
“Punjab would have to pay a high price for this alliance. The alliance with Congress would mean end of AAP’s identity in Punjab,” said AAP “rebel” MLAs in a joint statement.
Sandhu and Mansahia maintained that they were still the AAP MLAs and if party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal aligned with the Congress, “AAP will make a strong protest against it”.