Fresh trouble brews for AAP in Punjab;16 leaders quit posts in protest

In fresh trouble for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, 16 party leaders, including some district chiefs, quit their posts on Sunday to register their protest against state co-president Dr Balbir Singh’s “arbitrary decisions” in the state.

In a joint resignation letter addressed to Delhi deputy chief minister and in-charge of party affairs in Punjab Manish Sisodia, they said that Balbir Singh had taken several wrong decisions from the time he was appointed the state co-president due to which the party’s graph was plummeting in the state.

Those who quit their posts include state vice-president and in-charge of Patiala rural constituency Karanvir Singh Tiwana, general secretaries Pradeep Malhotra and Manjit Sidhu, Jalandhar rural district president Sarwan Singh, Muktsar district chief Jagdeep Sandhu, Fazilka district chief Samarvir Sidhu, Ferozepur district chief Malkeet Thind, Samana halka in-charge Jagtar Singh Rajla and Chamkaur Sahib halka in-charge Charanjit Singh.

“The state co-president has been taking decisions without consulting or taking anyone into confidence. His actions have resulted in widespread anger in the party,” said Tiwana. The immediate trigger for the mass resignations was the removal of advocate Gian Singh Mungo from the post of Patiala rural district chief.

“Mungo has been removed without giving any reason. An honest person with a clean image, he started his political career as a sarpanch, became additional advocate general and recently got elected as chief of Nabha Bar Association for the 18th time by defeating the joint candidate of the SAD, BJP and Congress, His loyalty and ability to work cannot be doubted” they said.

When contacted, Balbir Singh said he had not received any such resignation letter. “I think it is a non-issue. We are making some changes and adjustments. Mungo is practicing law and will be accommodated in the legal cell,” he said, playing down the resignations.

The disgruntled leaders marked copies of their resignation letter to AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, state unit chief Bhagwant Mann and leader of legislature party Sukhpal Khaira.