Day after revolt, AAP names new district heads, observers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 16

A day after 16 AAP leaders resigned from party posts, seeking the removal of state party co-convener Dr Balbir Singh, the party on Monday replaced some of them.

Party sources said the leadership was in no mood for reconciliation with rebel leaders who quit on Sunday. Sources said the party top brass had taken a serious note of their move to circulate the resignation on social media before it reached AAP president Arvind Kejriwal.

Dr Balbir Singh named district presidents for Jalandhar Rural (Harjinder Singh Seechewal) and Tarn Taran (Bhapinder Singh Bittu). Raman Kumar, Dr Tajinder Pal Singh, Karamjeet Singh and Vijay Gill have been appointed as general secretaries of the state unit. Sukhbir Singh Valtoha (Khemkaran), Harminder Singh Sandhu (Chabbewal) and Satnam Singh Jalwaha (Nawanshahr) have been named halqa incharges.

Besides, fourteen leaders have been appointed observers for 40 Vidhan Sabha constituencies.

Grouse genuine, but can be resolved: Khaira

Amritsar: A day after reports of crisis emerged in AAP’s state unit with sizeable number of leaders submitting a joint resignation letter to party convener Arvind Kejriwal, Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira on Monday termed the development as an outcome of resentment against the arbitrary working of state leaders. “It would be wrong to say that nothing serious has happened, but it is not something that cannot be resolved. I will meet state convener Bhagwant Mann.  I will also ask senior leader Manish Sisodia to intervene, if need be,” he said. On AAP’s prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he said if Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and Bains brothers unite with AAP, the traditional parties could vanish. “I can name Navjot Singh Sidhu too,” he added. tns