Chhotepur loses Punjab post

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 26

Amid hectic lobbying and much chest-thumping, the political affairs committee (PAC) of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)   today removed Sucha Singh Chhotepur as the Punjab unit convener, pending an inquiry by a two- member committee. If found innocent, Chhotepur could be back on the post, a party spokesperson said.

Edit: AAP on trial

The PAC met in New Delhi a few hours after an emotionally charged Chhotepur addressed the media in Chandigarh, ignoring pleas by Sanjay Singh, AAP’s Punjab political affairs in-charge, not to do so. He was accompanied by a large number of supporters. Among them were disgruntled ticket aspirants, who threatened to launch a party. 

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With MP Bhagwant Mann, PAC member, claiming “zero tolerance” for corruption earlier in the day, it was expected that Chhotepur would be expelled. But he was given a breather. 

A section of leaders from Punjab stoutly defended him and the party seemed headed for a split into two camps — one led by Punjab leaders and the other by the leadership in Delhi. At this point, the PAC members decided to step back. Senior leaders HS Phoolka, Kanwar Sandhu and Sukhpal Khaira played mediators and defused the situation.

In Chandigarh, Chhotepur accused party leaders Durgesh Pathak and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia of hatching a conspiring against him but desisted from making any allegation against Kejriwal. 

He dared anyone to give evidence he had taken money for himself. “I will quit politics if proved I have indulged in any kind of corruption during my 40 years of public life, from a sarpanch to state minister," he said, while insinuating that the Delhi coterie was anti-Sikh. 

On the sting operation, Chhotepur said, “Ï dare them (AAP leadership) to make the video public. I am willing to face a probe. I am a victim of a conspiracy hatched by the Delhi coterie, especially Durgesh Pathak, the party's national organisation head. Pathak and Kejriwal wanted me to  take the blame for carrying the Golden Temple picture alongside that of a broom (party symbol) in the party manifesto. I refused to do so and earned their displeasure." He said he had been accepting money from volunteers for the past more than two years as party fund. “For over two years, the party has not given us funds. How else was I expected to run the party except through volunteers’ money," he said.