Khaira merges party with Cong, calls AAP mistake

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 17

Former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday merged his Punjab Ekta Party with the Congress, saying joining the Aam Aadmi Party in 2015 was a “mistake.”

“AAP is a one man show. There is nothing in AAP beyond Arvind Kejriwal,” Khaira said after meeting former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s 12 Tuglaq Lane residence. Also present were Punjab MLAs Jagdev Singh and Piramal Singh. The joining happened in the presence of AICC general secretary Harish Rawat and Congress media in charge Randeep Surjewala.

Attacking AAP, Khaira said it was an undemocratic party with no system of internal reviews. “Arvind Kejriwal is into a habit of scoring self goals every few months. We appeal to the NRIs who stand disillusioned with Kejriwal that they should also join and support the Congress in large numbers. The NRIs are asking about the funds they sent to AAP. The funds never reached the people of Punjab. The trust of NRIs in AAP stands shattered,” said Khaira, formally merging his party into the Congress.