Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), it seems, is heading for a split in Punjab after its national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s “meek surrender” to SAD leader Bikram Majithia. Besides dividing into two factions — one of those who owe their allegiance to the Delhi durbar, and the other supporting the State leadership headed by the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sukhpal Khaira.
Visibly upset, a faction led by Khaira has even decided to virtually launch a “non-corporation movement” with the party leadership in Delhi.
Khaira group, enjoying support of 14 MlAs, is seriously contemplating to part ways with AAP in the House and form another faction. “We have the required two-third majority to break away and form another group...we will soon take a decision in this regard in the coming days,” a senior AAP MlA told The Pioneer.
It has been learnt that Khaira group has almost decided to part ways, but decided to defer its decision as of now. It is believed that even though HS Phoolka conveyed his support to Khaira’s decision, the group wanted him to be present and support the decision in person.
MlAs owing allegiance to Delhi leadership are Aman Arora, Dr Baljinder Kaur, Kultar Singh Sandhwa, Amrjit Sandoha, and deputy leader of opposition Sarabjit Kaur Manuke. One MlA Harpal Cheema is yet to take decision. Khaira has also received support from AAP ally in the state, the lok Insaaf Party (lIP), represented in the House by two brothers — Simarjet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains.
Strong Opposition to Kejriwal’s apology from within the party , led by Khaira, MlA Kanwar Sandhu, among others, started coming in from Thursday evening hours after Majithia made public the letter addressed to him by Delhi Chief Minister.
From Friday morning, AAP camp was full of activity. While the party MlAs held series of meetings to decide on their next course of action, leaders tweeted their disappointment and shock over Kejriwal’s apology to Majithia.
AAP’s Punjab unit chief Bhagwant Mann, co-president Aman Arora quit the posts, while its ally — lIP — too decide to part ways. The development came a day after the AAP constituted a strong core committee to take state-specific decisions. The core panel now stood dissolved following the controversy. Mann, announcing his resignation, “I’m resigning as a president of AAP Punjab…but my fight against drug mafia and all kind of corruption in Punjab will continue as an “Aam Aadmi “ of Punjab”.
Arora too tweeted his resignation to Manish Sisodia, party’s Punjab unit in-charge, saying, “Due to painful turn of events since yesterday, plz accept my resignation from the post of Co-President.Rgds”. Harjot Singh Bains, party’s youth wing president in Punjab, tweeted, “I have seen the pain of parents who lost their young ones due to drugs and they blame Bikram Majithia for it...I still believe Bikram Majithia was involved in drugs until he is given a clean chit after thorough independent enquiry by CBI.”
lIP BREAKS AllIANCE
lok Insaf Party announced to break its alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab saying that it cannot associate with a party “whose main leader meekly surrendered by tendering apology to former minister Bikram Singh Majithia”. lIP leader and MlA Simarjit Singh Bains, while calling Kejriwal a “traitor”, alleged that he “betrayed” Punjabis by tendering an apology.
“He is a fraudster. He accepted funds from Punjabis and also promised to punish Majithia. And now he tendered an apology which is a biggest fraud with Punjabis. Therefore we ended alliance with AAP,” he said.
At the same time, Simarjit said that the party would continue to support “at personal level” 14-15 AAP MlAs out of 20 who are working in the interest of Punjab. AAP and the lIP had entered into an alliance six months before the Punjab Assembly polls held in February last year.
KEJRIWAl’S SIlENCE DAMAGING
While the AAP chief Arind Kejriwal is maintaining is deafening silence, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia maintained that “all are together”. “We will talk to them, they will understand,” he said.
MAJITHIA BACK IN FOCUS
The lull in the political and social circles SAD leader and former minister Bikram Majithia expected after AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s apology before an Amritsar Court on Friday turned out to be calm before the storm as winds of resentment and aggression brought about turmoil in the state politics. His allies turned foes as opponents sang in unison to criticise the “meek” surrender.
The demand for independent probe against Majithia and his alleged links with drug mafia once again found voice in Punjab political circles, almost a years after it was last heard in the run up to Punjab polls in February last year.
AAP and the ruling Congress leaders went all out to attack Majithia, even demanding his arrest on the basis of the report submitted by the Special Task Force (STF) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court a day before.
#takebackapology campaign
In a face saving exercise, AAP’s state unit, supporting Delhi leadership, has started a ‘#takebackapology’ campaign on the social media.