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Differences in the situation.

Though this is not the first time that
AAP, which has next significant presence
Punjab AAP widen in Punjab after Delhi, is embroiled in the
crisis like this, yet in terms of scale and
positions taken by warring inner party
groups, it is unprecedented.
over leadership ing ways with our central leadership.
“We are not even thinking of part-
Kejriwal is our leader. But there will be no
compromise on the resolutions passed at
our Bathinda Convention,” said Kanwar
Sandhu, a journalist-turned politician
An open revolt against the manner in which Sukhpal Singh Khaira who represents Kharar constituency in
was removed from the position of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) the Vidhan Sabha. Seeking autonomy
hints that split may be on the cards, writes raju william in running the Punjab unit of the party
is one of the major resolutions. And this
is what has been taken most unkindly
ince July 26, the turmoil in The daily war of words since then be- by the central leadership as it considers
Punjab AAP is showing no tween the rebel group of MLAs and those it as a step towards literal revolt. If that
sign of abating. The no-holds- against them including a majority of the happens, the party is sure to lose the sta-
barred offensive launched by state unit office bearers has precipitated tus of the main Opposition party in the
S eight-out of the total 20 MLAs the crisis to a level that warned a split Vidhan Sabha.
in Vidhan Sabha over removal of Sukh- may be on the cards. The rift among the party seniors at the
pal Singh Khaira as the Leader of Opposi- Even as the rebel group led by Sukhpal state level has expected demoralising im-
tion (LoP) was not expected in the least by Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu have been pact on the party’s volunteers. They too
the party’s leadership. queering pitch for the party’s central are vertically split. And they give vent to
There is an open revolt against the leadership since Bathinda Convention their ire on social media allegedly at the
manner in which the affairs of the state on August 2 which saw a big turnout in behest of rival group leaders. The situa-
unit of the party were being handled. their favour, there has been no thaw in tion degenerated to the level that even

• Divided they stand The rift among the party seniors at the state level has expected demoralising impact on the party’s volunteers
photo: raman gill

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