Days after Aam Aadmi Party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira accused senior party leaders of “conspiring” to remove him from the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, the party on Thursday decided to appoint Harpal Singh Cheema, MLA from Dirba constituency, in his place.
Manish Sisodia, who is in charge of the party affairs in Punjab, took to social media to announce the replacement.
“AAP has decided to change its leader of opposition in Punjab. Harpal Singh Cheema, MLA Dirba constituency, shall be leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly,” tweeted Mr. Sisodia.
“A Dalit face from the State has been given responsibility. The national convener of the AAP, Arvind Kejriwal, has written a letter to the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha requesting him to appoint Harpal Singh Cheema as the LoP,” said an official statement.
Responding to his removal, Mr. Khaira said he has paid the price for speaking the truth and taking a stand for the cause of Punjab and Punjabis.
‘Discharged my duty’
“I have discharged my duty as LoP with uttermost sincerity, dedication and fearlessness towards Punjab and Punjabis. If speaking the truth and espousing the cause of Punjab, Punjabis and Sikhs cost me LoP, I’m prepared to let go a hundred such positions. Those at the helm have done what Congress and Akali Dal-BJP wanted,” tweeted Mr. Khaira
In a video posted on Facebook last week, Mr. Khaira alleged that the party’s State co-president, Balbir Singh, had accused him of taking money from volunteers in an attempt to malign him. Mr. Balbir Singh, however, denied Mr. Khaira’s charge, saying he never made any such accusation.
Mr. Khaira had also submitted a complaint to Mr. Sisodia against Mr. Balbir Singh, saying that false allegations were being levelled to tarnish his image among the party cadre.