As the AAP faces a split in Punjab over its national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s apology to Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Minister Bikram Majithia, the AAP's central leadership has called the party's Punjab leaders, including MLAs, for a meeting with Kejriwal in the national capital on Sunday.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Kejriwal's apology to Majithia for accusing him of being involved in drugs trade has pushed AAP's Punjab unit into a crisis as its state unit president Bhagwant Mann and co-president Aman Arora had on Friday resigned from their posts.
The state party leaders had said the “meek surrender” was painful and unfortunate.
In another jolt, the Lok Insaf Party (LIP), AAP's ally in the state had announced to break its alliance with the party in the wake of Kejriwal's apology.
Several party MLAs have already announced to skip the meeting with Kejriwal.
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira said that he would not go to Delhi to attend the meeting.
“I think a vast majority of MLAs will not attend this meeting,” he said.
AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu said, “We have got a message and call from Delhi Minister Manish Sisodia for a meeting in Delhi on Sunday. We have been informed that AAP chief will also be present in the meeting.” Sandhu, however, said that he would not attend the meeting.
He added that a day before, it was decided by a majority of MLAs here that future meetings with the central leadership should only be held in Chandigarh.
AAP MLA Aman Arora said that he would ask Kejriwal why he tendered an apology.
“One-on-one meeting should be held. It is our right to ask him why he tendered the apology,” he said.
When about whether he supported the move of breaking away and form separate unit, Arora said, “Until and unless, I hear from Kejriwal what made him to take such a decision, I do not want to comment or make assumptions on this.”
Meanwhile, three AAP legislators Amarjit Singh Sandoa from Ropar, Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo and Kultar Singh Sandhwan from Kotkapura met Kejriwal in Delhi on Saturday.
Sandoa said, “I met Kejriwal and asked him why he did this (tendering apology to Majithia). I was not satisfied with his reply as he talked about several court cases that are going on. I said we are fighting a war against drugs."
Notably, a two-round 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, though a final decision on this was deferred.