BATHINDA – The volunteers convention of Aam Aadmi Party today declared itself an autonomous unit, and dissolved all structures of the party in Punjab, signifying a split in the party.
A show of strength by former leader of opposition Sukhpal Khaira days after he was replaced by the party high command, the convention was attended by six other AAP legislators. The other MLAs who expressed solidarity with Khaira are Kanwar Sandhu from Kharar, Nazar Singh Mansahia (Mansa), Kulwant Singh (Mehal Kalan), Baldev Singh (Jaitu), Pirmal Singh (Bhadaur), Jagdev Singh Kamalu (Maur) and Jagtar Singh Jagga (Raipur).
Khaira’s son Mehtab Singh Khaira also addressed the convention. He said he would always stand by the people of Punjab like his father.
Dhadis (balladeers) also belted out ballads that suited the occasion like
“Dilli diye vairne hukumate, ik din lekhe dene painge”.
On Kejriwal’s apology to Bikram Majithia, Mansa MLA said:
“Kuchh to majboorian rahi hongi unki, koi yuhi to bewafa nahi hota.”
Khaira said the Punjab unit will be part of the Third Front against the ruling Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance.
The convention passed six resolutions, all of which were passed by voice vote by party workers present and were adopted by the MLAs on the spot.
Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu read out resolutions at the end of the convention for seeking consent of the volunteers.
- The resolutions virtually declared the official party unit set up by the Delhi leadership of the party as defunct.
- A resolution was passed, lauding Khaira for playing the role of Leader of Opposition “very well”.
- The resolutions also said that the Punjab unit of the party will make its own structure as well as rules and regulations necessary for its functioning.
- The resolution rejected the appointment of the new Leader of Opposition, Harpal Singh Cheema, while demanding that a meeting of the AAP MLAs be called within a week and new LoP be elected.
- The convention also directed the organisers and MLAs to plan their district-level programmes, starting from Hoshiarpur on August 12.
- Another resolution thanked the NRIs for their unflinching support to the party’s Punjab unit, right from 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Absentee leaders face wrath on Facebook
AAP leaders, who boycotted the convention, are facing the wrath of party workers on social media. Kotkapura MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwa posted two Hindi couplets on his Facebook account, but a majority of people rebuked him. Some of them even termed him a “traitor”.
Similarly, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, who has nearly 20 lakh followers on Facebook, is facing the anger of his supporters. On July 31, Mann uploaded a post to pay tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh, but a majority of people advised him to support Khaira. Meanwhile, a few people even advised the AAP leaders to stay united and toe the party line.