Ahead of CM Mann, Punjab MLAs meeting with Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday rejected suggestions of a possible revolt in its Punjab unit following the Assembly poll debacle in Delhi, with its leaders saying there is no threat to its government in the state.

“In fact, no political party is in a position to ignite a rebellion,” said a top party leader ahead of the Punjab AAP legislators’ meeting with party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday.

The remarks came as the Congress, the state’s main opposition party, claimed that AAP leaders are disenchanted with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and pushing for his removal.

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, had claimed that a “revolt” would be triggered “due to direct a conflict between Kejriwal and Mann”.

Mann, the most popular face of the party in Punjab, too has so far refrained from offering any reaction to the accusations by Bajwa.

It is learnt that after coming back from Delhi on Sunday, the CM headed to Chohal in Hoshiarpur, along with his close friends. Though he campaigned aggressively for party candidates in Delhi, visiting over 40 constituencies and drawing huge crowds, he has not offered any reaction to the party’s loss in Delhi.

Meanwhile, AAP’s Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha MP Malvinder Singh Kang scoffed at the statement made by Bajwa, who claimed on Sunday that close to 30 AAP MLAs are in his contact.

“Are even Congress MLAs in touch with him? His own brother left the Congress for the BJP, while some other leaders, including Raj Kumar Chabbewal, joined AAP,” Kang said.

‘Message to stay united’

However, according to AAP sources, it is feared that the once-in-a- while outbursts by their MLAs and leaders against the working of their government may become frequent, if denied more freehand. A source said AAP is sceptical about some of their MLAs "cosying up" to other political parties. Thus, the message of staying united is likely to be given to them at the party meeting.

The MLAs will be asked to stay humble and connected with their electorate, and not seen as a class above the voters, another source said.

“The governance model will change, but there seems to be no move to bring about any immediate change in the government,” another leader said.