Power play: AAP’s Sangrur unit gets 3rd chief in 9 months

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, July 29

The appointment of third district chief of AAP in past nine months in Sangrur, which is known as strong fort of the party as all senior leaders belong to this district, has given a reason to Opposition parties to cheer.

Don’t know reason for removal

I do not know the reason for my removal. Neither have I got any call nor received any notice from the party. There is no rift in the party and I will remain with it. - Devinder Singh Badesha, Sangrur aap ex-president

While Opposition leaders say AAP is a divided house in Sangrur, AAP leaders claiming they have changed districts chiefs to make party stronger and to groom leaders.

Punjab AAP chief and MP Bhagwant Mann, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema and senior leader and Sunam MLA Aman Arora belong to the district. But the repeated change of district president has been raising questions as AAP in last October had appointed Mahinder Singh Sidhu as district head. But it caused a division in Sangrur unit with many workers launching a campaign against him.

Even one leader Avtar Ealwal, who was then district secretary of the party, had resigned from his post. Later Devinder Singh Badeshas was given the responsibility.

The new district president and Gharachon sarpanch Gurmale Singh, who along with other senior leaders, was honoured at Sangrur on Thursday, said he had the support of all party leaders. “AAP has lost its base and is not able to find a reliable district president,” said Congress leader Satish Kansal. However, Cheema said: “Our earlier district chief Sidhu is working at the state level, while the party would also adjust Badesha in coming days.” 

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