AAP MLAs want top 3 party leaders to work together

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs today expressed their displeasure at the differences reportedly developing among three senior party leaders Bhagwant Mann, Sukhpal Khaira and HS Phoolka. They asked them to unite if they wanted the party to have a future in the state.

Sources said the issue of differences among the three leaders was being whispered in party circles, but several MLAs raised it strongly with Leader of the Opposition Khaira in a meeting convened by him here today.

Khaira had called the meeting to discuss the reasons for party’s poor showing in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection and make a strategy on the civic body polls.

Khaira had invited state party convener and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann to the meeting, but he failed to turn up. Of the 20 MLAs, only 10, including Khaira, were present.

Phoolka, former Leader of the Opposition, was also absent. He did not campaign in Gurdaspur, claiming to be busy in cases of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and his constituency (Dakha).

Also conspicuous by her absence was Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur. She was a contender for the post of Leader of the Opposition. In a tweet, she had blamed the Punjab team for the Gurdaspur loss.

Sources said as the meeting noted the absence of some leaders, a couple of legislators pointed out that Khaira had also skipped a meeting called by Mann on October 12. Khaira reportedly said he was busy elsewhere and had no other reason to skip the meeting.

The MLAs said they respected the qualities of the three leaders and wanted them to work together, sources said. They argued people of the state wanted an alternative to the Congress and the Akali-BJP alliance and only AAP could offer them that. Ego and difference of opinion of top leaders, however, could ruin the party.

Khaira reportedly assured the MLAs he had no differences with anyone and he would continue working for the party’s unity.