Khaira for a ‘third front’ of like-minded parties in Punjab

Aam Aadmi Party’s “rebel” leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday made it clear that he was not after “posts” while pitching for a united alliance between the “like-minded parties” for the betterment of Punjab.

Khaira, in a complete defiance to the AAP’s high command, went ahead with organizing a volunteers’ convention at Bathinda even as it was declared as “anti-party” by its leadership.

Enthused by “more than expected” support, Khaira lashed out at the party’s central leadership and blamed it for the party’s resounding defeat in 2017 Punjab polls, and the continuous declining popularity graph in the state.

Pointing finger at the “Delhi bosses” for AAP’s finishing at distant second spot in state assembly polls held last year, Khaitra said: “They sent their two leaders who put the future of Punjab at stake for their egos…And as a result, the party ended up sitting in the opposition.”

Khaira, without naming anyone but in apparent indication towards Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak, said that the duo was still dictating terms in the party's Punjab affairs.

In a massive show of strength, Khaira said: “My fight is for the interests of Punjab. I am not after any post. I will speak for all Punjabis. This state has been ruined by the misrule of the Badal family and (Chief Minister) Amarinder Singh. This is not my fight but the fight for Punjab.”

Khaira exhorted the volunteers to give them the right to build up a third front in the state by forging alliance with the “like-minded” parties so as to rid Punjab of the Congress and the SAD, both of which have “ruined the state in the last three decades”.

He said that they will kick off their campaign by paying obeisance at the Golden Temple.

Khaira, accompanied by six fellow MLAs, said that connecting with the people in villages and towns would be their main objective now.

At the same time, Khaira demanded that those MLAs, who betrayed the people by not attending the convention, should not be allowed to enter the villages.

“The convention has been organized to show that AAP leadership and activists in Punjab have the freedom to express their opinion. This is not my fight but the fight for Punjab,” he added.

SANDHU DEMANDS TICKET-ALLOTMENT “SCAM” BE PROBED

Mincing no words, AAP MLA from Kharar Kanwar Sandhu on Thursday went on to allege that party tickets, for the 2017 state assembly elections, were sold. He demanded that an inquiry should be conducted by the party to look into the alleged selling of party tickets.

Sandhu, a former journalist while addressing the Bathinda congregation, also blamed the “wrong” distribution of tickets in the 2017 Assembly polls for the party’s defeat.

HOPE ‘MISGUIDED’ MLAs BE BACK SOON: AAP LEADERSHIP

Eleven of the 20 AAP legislators, who had a breakfast meeting with the party’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the national capital on Thursday, said that the MLAs and the leaders, who attended the Bathinda convention, are misguided, and hope they will be back soon.

AAP’s Punjab unit co-president Dr balbir Singh, who also attended the meeting, said that they had told the party leadership that those attending the Bathinda convention were their “brothers” and were “misguided” and should not be acted against.

“The MLAs and state office bearers have suggested the central leadership to take no disciplinary action against the leaders who attended Bathinda convention,” he said adding that those who attended the convention are misguided and hope they will fall in party line in coming days to strengthen the party. The leaders are marching on the road that leads to nowhere, he said.

Dr Balbir said that holding a convention under the banner of Aam Aadmi Party “without consulting the state and centre le]adership is illegal” and the leaders must avoid such activities in future.

“Lesser than expected people attended the convention despite efforts made by Akali-BJP-RSS and Bains brothers and claims of around 14 MLAs attending the event also fell flat,” he said.

At the same time, he appealed the leaders that they must come and talk to the party leadership and work for the betterment of state. “The people of state are marred by different kinds of mafias and AAP must carry forward its fight against them,” he added.

The newly-appointed Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema claimed that the crowds for the convention were mobilized by Lok Insaaf Party’s Bains brothers.