7,000 AAP sarpanches, panches elected: Kejriwal

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 3

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Thursday claimed that 7,000 panches and sarpanches belonging to the party were elected in the recently concluded panchayat elections. During the block-level meeting of office-bearers, it was decided that that in view of the “overwhelming” response received by the party in the recent panchayat elections in Punjab, the panches and sarpanches elected and their supporters would hold the reins of the Lok Sabha elections.

Kejriwal hosted a special lunch for office-bearers of the state party unit and stressed that those dividing the party would not gain anything.

He said AAP was the only hope for people in Punjab and at the national level. Meanwhile, party’s Punjab affairs incharge Manish Sisodia minced no words in saying some vested interests were trying to create a wedge between Delhi and Punjab units, which, he said, was a mere ploy to mislead people of the state for their petty ends.

He said it had become necessary for the party to take stern action against such forces.

He was referring to the rebel group of Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira, who along with six other MLAs, has formed a break-away group.

Kejriwal, while addressing a meeting of block-level party leadership at his official residence in New Delhi, alleged that during the 70-year-long tenure of leading political parties, people of the country had suffered a lot. He alleged that these parties had plundered the country like foreign invaders. However now, he said, people of the country never stop talking about the mohalla clinics set up in the Capital and drastic changes brought about in Delhi schools ensuring better healthcare and quality education.

Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann said discipline was first and foremost for the smooth run of an organisation. He said AAP was committed to taking public-centric issues to a conclusive end.

Among others who addressed the meeting were Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, core committee chairman Budh Ram and MLA Aman Arora.