Fault lines line up for Punjab AAP

Chandigarh, August 28

The turmoil in AAP after Sucha Singh Chhotepur's removal as state convener has made Pargat Singh, suspended Akali MLA from Jalandhar Cantt, wary. He was to join AAP in mid-September. “I have yet to make up my mind.  I am exploring all options,” the MLA told The Tribune. 

Chhotepur’s removal from his post, his attack on the Delhi coterie and the resultant calls for “Punjabiyat” have thrown the party into disarray.

A member of AAP’s Political Review Committee, Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, has already got registered a party under the name of AAP-Punjab. “AAP functions on the dictates of one man, Arvind Kejriwal. Set up months ago, the review committee has not met once,” he said.

Rahul Shukla, AAP observer, who was in Amritsar, said  Chhotepur had been removed on the basis of substantial evidence even as Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann blamed AAP’s rivals for the turmoil in the party.

Meanwhile, the police averted a clash between rival AAP groups in Dinanagar. 

Chhotepur’s loyalists marched to the venue where AAP leaders  were holding a meeting. The police kept the two groups apart. In Dera Baba Nanak, policemen were deployed in strength to prevent trouble at an AAP meeting. —TNS