The crisis in the Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party over the sudden replacement of the party’s firebrand Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Sukhpal Singh Khaira by the party high command has deepened with half the 20 party MLAs in the state raising a banner of revolt, demanding a review of the “undemocratic†decision. At a press conference here on Friday, these MLAs, including Khaira, also announced their decision to take the issue to the people’s court by organising a volunteers’ convention at Bathinda on August 2.
One of the MLAs and state party spokesman Kanwar Sandhu told media persons that a letter signed by eight MLAs has been sent to party convenor Arvind Kejriwal demanding a review of the “undemocratic” decision of the party high command, made without consulting the state MLAs of the party, and intervene to resolve the crisis. The party high command had failed to issue a prior show cause notice, neither did it ascribe any reason for the sudden decision, he added.
Photo By : Life In Chandigarh
Declining to share copies of the letter or its contents with the media, claiming that it was an internal matter of the party, he said even calling the press conference was not a pleasant decision to make but was necessitated to communicate with the grassroots volunteers their feelings over the latest development. He said they remained loyal to the party and would not indulge in any activity which will weaken it.
MLA from Mansa, Nazar Singh Manshahia said it was unfortunate that such an undemocratic decision had been taken so close to the panchayat elections to be held in the state.
Jagdev Singh, MLA from Maur, said due process of consulting MLAs was followed in all previous cases of appointment of LOP and state party president, but unfortunately this time it was bypassed. Maintaining that the party high command should have consulted the MLAs before taking a decision, even if it was to go against the wishes of the party legislators, he said the pride of the MLAs had been hurt.
Khaira said he was not saddened by his replacement as LOP, but he was concerned that the party command, in taking the decision had played into the hands of the Badal family and Capt. Amarinder Singh lobbies which had been conspiring against him by trying to implicate him in false cases because of his virulent campaign against mafias being supported by them.
Refuting an observation, he said the August 2 convention did not amount to anti-party activity. In fact, it will help strengthen the party at the grassroots level as in a democracy, the ultimate verdict lies with the masses, he asserted.
 Sukhpal Singh Khaira by the party high command has deepened with half the 20 party MLAs in the state raising a banner of revolt, demanding a review of the “undemocratic†decision. At a press conference here on Friday, these MLAs, including Khaira, also announced their decision to take the issue to the people's court by organising a volunteers' convent){kind=link}