Senior Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Sunday resigned from the party’s primary membership, saying that the party has “deviated from its ideology and principles”.
The party’s central leadership was quick to respond to Mr. Khaira’s resignation, saying that he was revolting against the party as he was removed from the post of Leader of the Opposition in Punjab and the position was given to a Dalit leader.
Mr. Khaira in his resignation letter to Mr. Kejriwal said: “I am constrained to forward my resignation from the primary membership of the AAP, as the party has totally deviated from the ideology and principles on which it was formed post Anna Hazare movement.”
‘Kejriwal’s attitude’
Mr. Khaira added “...unfortunately after joining the party I realised that the hierarchy in the AAP was no different from the traditional centralised political parties. The turn of events in the run-up of the 2017 Punjab elections further confirmed my belief that there was no inner party democracy. Your [Kejriwal] duplicity on the vital issue of Punjab river waters also puts you on the same pedestal as the other leaders. You have blatantly gone back on the most important promise of “Swaraj” by centralising all powers in yourself. You have also thrown to the wind the constitution of the party merely to remain convener and continue your grip on the party. Your hobnobbing and flirting with the Congress is yet another example of sheer political opportunism...”
“I am saddened to state that your [Kejriwal] dictatorial attitude has shattered the dreams of Indians and the Punjabis...” he added.
‘Resign as MLA’
Senior AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Twitter: “Mr. Sukhpal Khaira’s resignation was expected. Party will be strengthened with his exit. He should now resign from MLA also, which he won on the party ticket. Mr. Khaira started revolting against party since the post of LoP in Punjab was given to a Dalit leader.”
“AAP will keep working for the poor and marginalised people. Those who have problem in this can leave the party. Mr. Khaira was trying to weaken party and was openly revolting against the party since then. He tried to break the party. Which organization can tolerate such behaviour?” he said in another tweet.
The resignation of Mr. Khaira, who was removed as the Leader of the Opposition from the Punjab Assembly last year, has come two days after senior leader H.S. Phoolka quit the AAP.
Rebellion & factions
The party last year saw a rebellion by eight out of 20 MLAs after Mr. Khaira was removed from the post of the Leader of the Opposition in July by the central leadership and replaced by Harpal Singh Cheema. The MLAs had termed the move “undemocratic”. Since then the Khaira-led faction has been demanding autonomy to the party’s State unit. Later, Mr. Khaira, and another senior leader Kanwar Sandhu were suspended from the party on grounds of indiscipline.
One of the rebel MLAs Jai Kishan Singh had recently returned to the AAP fold from the Khaira faction.
The crises hit the party in March last after Mr. Kejriwal apologised to former Punjab Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on the allegations levelled by him against Mr. Majithia of being involved in drugs trade.
Meanwhile, AAP MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann said that resignation of Mr. Khaira is just political drama and “if he wants to test his popularity he must resign from the Vidhan Sabha and contest from Bholath constituency again”.