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politics

the women MLAs opposed to Khaira- says Sandhu. Similarly, Dr Balbir Singh ingly tough to adhere to the party dis-
Sandhu duo were targeted on social says they too have started district level cipline, even when apparently wrong
media. Sandhu, however, apologized meetings. Such series of meetings seem decisions are taken, have for the first
for that. to have been planned more to serve the time been clearly marked. “It’s a wel-
Nobody in Punjab AAP and even in purpose of establishing their respec- come churning. After all, if something
the rebel group knows where the ongo- tive credentials. The internal rift still negative is happening, positive too is
ing turmoil will it lead them to. “What remains. there at the same time,” philosophises
next? It’s a million dollar question,” said Observers attribute the crisis to lack an MLA without wishing to be named.
Dr Balbir Singh, co-president of the of party loyalty and resultant inner par- As a fallout of the Khaira episode, the
state unit and the main person who ty discipline which in many ways could three leaders back at the helm of the
Khaira accused of conspiring against not mature as self-seekers thronged party affairs- Sangrur MP Bhagwant
him and leading to his removal as the the party sensing it could form the Maan, State co-president Dr Balbir
LoP. This suave Patiala-based eye sur- government in the state. This process Singh, newly appointed LoP Harpal
geon, who enjoys trust of the central started after unprecedented four-seat Cheema- are the old timers.It is not that
leadership, attributes Khaira’s removal victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. the rebels are rootless. A fairly impres-
mainly to his failure to highlight the Several disgruntled middle and lower sive turnout at their Bathinda Conven-
party and its government’s achieve- rung leaders from other parties includ- tion, irrespective of the rivals allega-
ments in Delhi to bolster party’s image ing Akalis, Congress and BJP jumped on tion of it being helped by supporters of
in Punjab. Even as both warring groups to AAP bandwagon. the AAP’s estranged alliance partner,
stick to their stated positions, the crisis It continued like this till Vidhan Ludhiana’s MLAs duo Bains brothers,
seems unending. Though Dr Balbir Sin- provided them enough boost to remain
gh discloses efforts are on to woo back unrelenting in their demand of having
the rebels, the onus is on the both sides Even as the rebel the right to run the party in the state on
to broker peace. Undoubtedly, the cen- AAP group has their own. They claim to have major-
tral leadership has to play the bigger ity of volunteers and the district level
role and make effective intervention. been queering pitch leaders on their side. Social media is
But sources say there is no sign of this for the party’s also abuzz with a section of NRI Pun-
happening at the moment. The party’s jabis siding with them. But will all this
Punjab Affairs Incharge and Delhi Dep- central leadership, be enough to establish them as the real
uty Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has there has been face of AAP capable of taking decisions
hardly any time out of his busy official in line with the original AAP plank that
duties in Delhi. no thaw in the once earned the party mass support in
For the close observers of AAP’s Punjab? Sandhu has more than once
journey in Punjab, the current crisis is situation talked about reinventing Kejriwal’s
inevitable outcome of the its brand of concept of Swaraj.
politics. “Such a situation arises when Sabha elections in 2017. The flashpoint Kumar thinks the rebels have the
a party deals in politics bereft of any came at the time of tickets distributions. potential of becoming mega spoiler
ideological substance. The AAP was The desertions followed. The allega- like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). They
guided more by power logic and failed tions of ignoring genuine candidates did not offer any Punjab-centric con-
to deliver on people-centric issues. and selling tickets flew thick and thin. crete agenda at Bathinda Convention.
This brand of politics cannot sustain The central leadership was accused Their main focus was on presenting
for long,” observes Chandigarh-based of arrogance and Punjab versus Delhi themselves as the real AAP. “No doubt,
political analyst Dr Parmod Kumar narrative gained currency. Most of the there will always be scope of a third al-
who is Director, Institute for Develop- present senior leaders including MLAs, ternative in Punjab. They can be formi-
ment and Communication. particularly those in the rebel group, dable and give sleepless nights political
Apparently stung by the adverse endorsed this narrative. Interestingly, rivals if they resign as MLAs. It must be
public reaction fearing political aliena- this narrative has revived in an equal- remembered that people tend to sym-
tion due to constant inner party bick- ly scathing manner after removal of pathise in such cases,” he added.
ering, both factions have now realized Khaira as the LoP. But the question is, do the rebels
that they should connect with people In a way, the ongoing crisis is being have the courage to take such a step in
and the party volunteers at the grass- seen as another round of filtering pro- the interest of Punjab? “What next?”
roots level. “We have started series of cess. Khaira and Sandhu were among is indeed a million dollar question for
meetings to revive and strengthen the many who had joined AAP not long AAP as a whole in Punjab.
party at the grassroots on line with our before the Vidhan Sabha elections.
resolution at Bathinda Convention,” Those who had been finding it increas- letters@tehelka.com

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