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Wither AAP in Punjab?

Former state Convener Gurpreet Ghuggi resigns, senior leader Upkar Sandhu ousted for speaking against party's decision

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File photo of Gurpreet Guggi with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal at a rally in Jalandhar.
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Two months after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made its debut in Punjab Assembly with 20 MLAs, the party seems to be on verge of a disintegration, with another leader and former convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich resigning from the primary membership of the party.

Comedian-turned politician, Waraich was removed from the post of Convener, after Arvind Kejriwal announced Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann to be party chief in Punjab amidst much criticism from within the party.

"It hurts me that I'm being forced to work under a person who has been made a Convener after the party convinced him to quit his drinking habits. It is not a mature decision. I had left my career to join the party. But now it has become difficult for me to continue and so I resign from its primary membership," said visibly emotional Waraich, who was appointed as the convener last year after Sucha Singh Chhotepur was ousted over bribery allegations.

Waraich has also refused AAP's offer to be a member of party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC). This comes as another setback to the party, which has been left divided over Mann's elevation as Convener. Party's Chief Whip and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira had resigned from the post on Sunday.

On the allegations leveled by ousted Delhi leader Kapil Mishra that "women and money" were allegedly used during ticket allotment process in Punjab, Waraich said, "I had also received complaints and it was my duty to forward them to the national leadership to take some disciplinary action. But unfortunately they were ignored and no action was taken."

He added that there were complaints against political observers who were brought from Delhi and 53 of them were even sent back.

"Our workers are being booked in false cases; one of them was shot at. Volunteers are dejected, but the national leadership is not bothered to come and address their concerns. I apologize to our volunteers that I could not bring Delhi leadership to Punjab post the results. I had joined it enthusiastically but I'm leaving with a heavy hurt. The party is running away from the present crisis," said Waraich.

He also urged the party to bring suspended AAP leader, MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi back into the party fold and make him the Convener.

Even as dissenting voices rose against the top leadership, the party took another drastic step and expelled senior leader, Upkar Singh Sandhu for 'anti-party' activities. Sandhu who had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha bypoll from Amritsar had condemned party's decision to appoint Mann as the Convener.

Similar sentiments were echoed by NRI volunteers of the party who had written to Arvind Kejriwal against elevating Mann to the post of Convener.

Reacting to party's decision to suspend another senior leader, Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi who was suspended from party two years ago said, "AAP came with an ideology, but with that ideology gone for a toss, the party has also lost its standing. Any leader who has raised his voice against the party's high command has been shown the doors. When I was suspended two years ago, no effort was made to reconcile the differences. It is happening again."

...& ANALYSIS

  • AAP came with an ideology, it should not let anything that will make the party lose its standing.
     
  • Leaders who raise their voice against the party’s high command should be heard before being shown the doors.
     
  • Ghuggi has said his opposition was not against any individual but he was upset with the appointment process.
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