AAP rebels name Khaira as ad hoc state president

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20

The rebel group of eight AAP MLAs on Monday announced Sukhpal Khaira as their ad hoc president, while Leader of Opposition (LoP) Harpal Cheema appointed Kultar Singh Sandhwan as the chief whip of the party, replacing Khaira-supporter Mansa MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia.

Cheema also appointed Ropar MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa and Bathinda (Rural) MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby as party whips.

The battle of one-upmanship between the AAP group of 12 MLAs, led by Dirba MLA Cheema, and the dissident MLAs is all set to move to the Vidhan Sabha.

Cheema has called a meeting of all AAP MLAs on Tuesday to discuss the floor strategy for the three-day Vidan Sabha session beginning August 24.

The Khaira group has announced they would not attend the meeting, as they did not recognise Cheema as the Leader of Opposition.

Khaira said: “The volunteers’ Bathinda convention has already dissolved the state unit and rejected Cheema’s appointment.”

Cheema said, “I will send invitations to all AAP legislators and it is up to them to attend the party’s Tuesday meeting.”

Addressing the media, Khaira and group’s spokesperson Kanwar Sandhu said the political affairs committee of their group also decided to hold a series of district-wise conventions.

Sandhu said the district conventions of volunteers would further ratify the appointments made by the political affairs committee.