MC ELECTIONS: All is not well in AAP Chandigarh unit?

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) election campaign committee chairman, Chandermukhi Sharma, has been ‘distancing himself’ from party activities for the past about 10 days and has switched off his mobile phone. Sources said he was angry as one of his recommended candidates was not being considered for ticket.

Two days ago, when party’s senior leader and Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisoda visited the city to discuss the manifesto for the MC poll, Chandermukhi was absent even as all senior local leaders were there. In the last two-three press conferences held by party in-charge and Delhi MLA Jarnail Singh, Chandermukhi was conspicuous by his absence.

The party is already said to be divided in four groups after influx of people from the city Congress into the AAP fold. There are four major powerhouses in the city AAP — former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan, city party convener Prem Garg, co-incharge Pardeep Chhabra and Chandermukhi Sharma. The latter two were earlier in the Congress.

Sources said more fissures might appear once the names for ticket were announced.

Calls and messages sent to Chandermukhi by this correspondent elicited no response.

Denying any groupism in the AAP, Prem Garg claimed, “Chandermukhi has just returned from Bengaluru. He is ill. It is not that someone of his choice has not been considered.”

SAD names 4 candidates

Chandigarh: The city unit of the SAD has announced a total of 13 candidates for the MC poll so far. Nine names were announced earlier while four were declared on Saturday. Hardeep Singh Sajan will contest from ward number 8, Reema Mahajan from ward number 22, Jagtar Singh from ward number 24 and Atul Sharma from ward number 33. Meanwhile, AAP is expected to announce the names of its 20-25 candidates on Sunday.