Bathinda AAP nominee caught in a battle within

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 10

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Bathinda (Rural), Rupinder Kaur Ruby, is already in the middle of a pitched battle for the forthcoming Assembly elections. But her opponents are not from the Congress or the SAD, but disgruntled workers of her own party who allege her name did not even feature in the candidates suggested by them.

As Ruby was addressing her first press conference here today along with Romi Bhati (zone incharge) claiming that the inner party differences had been sorted out, a rival group was opposing her candidature and burning effigies at Sangat Mandi.

The youth wing of the party led by Tarsem Singh Pathrala burnt the effigies and raised slogans against Bhati and Ruby. Circle incharge Rajpal Singh did not join the protesters, but continued to oppose Ruby’s candidature. He said: “We are not revolting against our party. We only want a suitable candidate from our constituency.” Local party leaders Kuldip Sharma, Jasgir Teona and Charanjit Raike Kalan held a press conference here on Monday to express their opposition to Ruby’s candidature.

Pathrala and Rajpal said they continued to oppose the candidature of Ruby. “The matter has not been resolved yet. We have already approached state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and expect immediate action.”