Rift in AAP's Pb unit intensifies

The ongoing internal tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Punjab unit apparently intensified on Sunday.

Not only that AAP’s rebel faction was “not invited” for a party meeting to be presided over by its supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia in Sangrur, but the two Delhi leaders virtually ignored the “rebels” turning a condolence meeting of party MLA’s father into a mute battlefield.

However, the party leadership expresses hope of resolving the differences soon claiming that talks are on with the dissidents.

AAP’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, along with his Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia, was in Barnala — his first visit to Punjab after his controversial apology to the SAD leader Bikram Majithia in a defamation case — to attend the bhog ceremony of party MLA Kulwant Singh Pandora’s father in Pandori village.

At the ceremony, AAP’s ‘rebel’ MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, along with three MLAs supporting him, was present too. But, there were no talks, no eye-contact, and no greetings.

Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, however, met Khaira briefly and later maintained that talks are on between both the factions and soon there will be a rapprochement.

On the other hand, Khaira said that he was not informed about Kejriwal visit, and neither about any meeting.

Kejriwal’s visit has come at a time when the party was facing its worst ever crisis and is on the verge of a split. The situation comes after the party leadership “unceremoniously” removed Khaira from the post of the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha, and appointed Harpal Singh Cheema as his replacement — which, the MLAs claimed, was done without consulting them.

AAP’s Punjab unit has been divided into two power centres with the rebel faction setting up its own parallel team.

However, sources informed The Pioneer that Kejriwal’s visit may help the party to reclaim its losing support base in the state and in winning over the dissidents.

Kejriwal and Sisodia reached Sangrur by Shatabadi Express from where they were joined by Mann and all headed for Barnala at the residence of MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer where they held meeting with Faridkot MP Prof Sadhu Singh, some MLAs who owe allegiance to Delhi leadership.

To pacify the rebel MLAs, Kejriwal said that he has deputed some MLAs to talk to them and later, he would also talk to them. “We are concerned for the betterment of Punjab and for it, we will put a united face…I have asked the party MLAs to talk to those MLAs of the party who are angry with the party and prevail upon them to come back,” he added.

‘CAPT FAILED TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES’

Kejriwal, while talking to media persons at the end of his day-long Punjab visit, lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh saying that the Congress leader had made lots of poll promises “which remain unfulfilled”.

“He had promised to give exemplary punishment to those behind incidents of sacrilege especially at Bargari. As now, the report Justice (retired) Ranjit Singh commission is out wherein the names of some senior police officers have come out in the open and the report points towards Badals, the government should take action,” he said.

He alleged that the State Government was trying to delay action and that was why it had handed over the report to the CBI. We want that report should be tabled and  all those who are responsible are punished, he said.

“The people of Punjab are angry with this government and they are already angry with SAD. Comparing to it, the Delhi Government has done a lot in last three and half years. We have done a lot in strengthening health and education sectors which is for everyone to see,” he said.

Inviting Capt Amarinder to see as how the government schools, hospitals, and mohalla clinics work, Kejriwal said that in case the Capt Amarinder government does not know how to work, “we can send Manish Sisodia in Punjab for 10 days to tell the government how health and education institutions could be strengthened”.

NO ALLIANCE WITH CONG

Kejriwal ruled out any alliance with the Congress for 2019 parliamentary elections. “There were talks of forming mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) to defeat BJP but AAP declined to be part of it,” said Kejriwal adding that in the last 70 years, Congress and BJP has done nothing than minting money but we do work and think for the prosperity of the country.