A day after majority of AAP MlAs in Punjab contemplated a split, senior AAP leader HS Phoolka on Saturday asked party legislators to seek “autonomy” for the state unit rather than forming a separate party “in the best interest” of the state.
Giving his views for the first time after party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s apology to former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia which pushed the state unit into a crisis, the former leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly and MlA from Dakha suggested that the state unit should function like a regional party with total independence on state matters.
"In best interest of Pb, my suggestion to Pb AAP MlAs- demand autonomy, not a separate party. AAP Punjab should function as a regional party with an alliance with national AAP. In Punjab matters, total independence & on national issues, go by National leadership (sic)," Phoolka, a noted Supreme Court lawyer, tweeted.
A marathon meeting was held on Friday by the Punjab unit of AAP here in which a resolution on splitting from the Delhi unit and forming a separate unit was discussed.
“Two to three resolutions were kept, which were discussed thoroughly. One among these was whether we should split from the Delhi unit and form a separate unit or should we continue like this. Consensus could not be built on this even though majority MlAs wanted to break away. The members said they were very angry with this apology while others felt that they wanted to ask Delhi leadership on apology issue,” AAP senior leader from the state and MlA Kanwar Sandhu had said.
“Therefore, decision on this has been deferred for the time being,” he added.
On Thursday, Kejriwal withdrew his drug trade allegations against Bikram Singh Majithia, who is a brother-in-law of Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal, and an application regarding the same was filed in a trial court in Amritsar, where a defamation case filed by Majithia against the Delhi Chief Minister on May 20, 2016, is being heard.
“This proves that they were raking up the issue to tarnish my image and harm me and gain politically," Majithia had told mediapersons on Thursday.
“I will withdraw the case, which I had filed for what is right and for my own and my family's honour," he had said.
Reacting to Kejriwal's apology, leader of Opposition and AAP legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira said he was "stunned" by the development.
"We're appalled (and) stunned by the apology of @ArvindKejriwal tendered today, we don't hesitate to admit that we haven't been consulted on this meek surrender by a leader of his stature," he had said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, AAP state unit chief spokesperson and founder convenor of AAP Punjab, Harjot Singh Bains had accused Sukhpal Khaira of trying to split the party for his vested interest.
Bains had a day before tweeted, “Sukhpal Khaira is trying his best to break AAP being lOP. He should immediately resign as lOP & MlA and face the bypoll. He wants to capture the party built by hardwork of thousands of volunteers over last 6 years after coming from Congress one year back. He always had this agenda (sic).”