LoP Harpal Singh Cheema postpones legislature party meet to tomorrow after Khaira group’s objection

Punjab leader of opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday postponed the legislature party meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following an objection from a dissident group legislator. The meeting will now be held on August 24 (Friday) to devise a strategy for the upcoming three-day monsoon session of the state assembly.

“The decision to postpone the meeting was taken in the morning after we learnt about Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu’s objections. As it is an important session, we want all party MLAs to attend the meeting,” said Cheema.

Wednesday’s meeting coincided with a district-level convention convened by the dissident faction led by Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in Faridkot. Sandhu, who belongs to Khaira group, had on Tuesday accused Cheema of “deliberately” scheduling the legislature party meeting on the day they were holding their public meeting. He alleged that important issues, including the Ranjit Singh Commission report, would be discussed in the assembly and they (MLAs loyal to Delhi leadership) probably wanted to bail out the (Congress) government.

However, Sunam MLA Aman Arora, who has been in touch with the rebel faction to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides, said the meeting was rescheduled to allow all party legislators to participate and contribute their ideas.

The dissident group has the support of eight of 20 party MLAs and has raised a banner of revolt against the party’s central and state leadership after Khaira was unceremoniously removed from the post of leader of opposition last month.

First Published: Aug 23, 2018 17:41 IST