Days after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its organisational structure in Punjab eyeing the 2017 polls, three of its MPs from the State have raised a banner of revolt. It has been learnt that these leaders — Patiala MP Dr Dharam Vira Gandhi, Faridkot MP Prof Sadhu Singh, and Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa — have shot off a letter to the party high command against the appointment of observers in 13 zones across the State.They have alleged that the MPs were “not consulted” while making the appointment of the party observers. The decision to write to the high command came after party’s three parliamentarians, out of total four, held a meeting in Patiala. Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann was not part of the meeting.
The communiqué contains the scathing remarks against the party’s Punjab unit observer Sanjay Singh and the State party’s convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur.Singh, on Saturday, had announced the party’s organisational structure in the State appointing retired defence personnel, educationists, advocates and social workers as heads of 13 zones to hold meetings with party volunteers and public to ascertain issues plaguing the State.Against reports of replacing Chhotepur as party’s State convener, Singh had announced his continuation on the post.Irked, the MPs alleged Sanjay Singh was out to “destroy the party”, and the observers were appointed in 13 Parliamentary constituencies while ignoring the party’s rules.“We felt MPs were ignored while making these appointments and not taken into confidence.
All should have been consulted. Where is Swaraj in this which the party keeps talking aboutIJ We have knowledge which is critical to the State in terms of heritage, culture and people,” said Dr Gandhi.“I think both are out to destroy the spirit of the party. What about the respect for the constitution of the party and respect for the only four MPs of the party elected from Punjab. Is Sanjay Singh bigger than the State ExecutiveIJ” questioned Dr Gandhi.He added, “I am afraid there is a move to disintegrate or at least take the spirit out of the party. We will certainly not sit back and let the rotten stuff come to the fore. We will not let the people of Punjab to be befooled and betrayed by a handful of non-entities.”The MPs has also made it amply clear that in case the appointments were not revoked, “we would be forced to take some extreme step”.Dr Gandhi had also raised his voice against the ouster of rebel Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from the party’s executive.