AAP’s Phoolka is Leader of Opposition

Chandigarh, March 15

Dakha MLA HS Phoolka will be the Leader of Opposition, a Cabinet-rank post, in the Punjab Assembly with the 20-member AAP Legislature Party electing him as its head in New Delhi today. The decision came after party’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a one-on-one meeting with MLAs and later announced the selection at an open house. Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira will be the party’s chief whip.

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Kejriwal told the MLAs that a majority favoured Phoolka as he was their seniormost leader in Punjab. AAP women wing leader and Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur proposed Phoolka’s name, while Sunam MLA Aman Arora and Mansa legislator NS Mansahia seconded it.

Alliance partner Lok Insaaf Party, led by Simarjit Bains and brother Balwinder Bains, agreed with the choice and the two had a separate meeting with Kejriwal, a party spokesperson said. Phoolka, an SC lawyer, had won by 4,169 votes from Dakha in Ludhiana. — TNS