107. AAPs Punjab unit is party headed for second split?

by Debobrat Ghose  Jul 8, 2015 17:51 IST

#AAP   #Leadership   #Punjab 

Is Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) heading towards a second split after the first one that led to the formation of Swaraj Abhiyan?

While in the former case, it was the intellectual group within the party led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan that had opposed the party’s ‘undemocratic functioning’, this time it’s the four members of Parliament of AAP from Punjab who have raised red flag against the party leadership.

A section of the Punjab unit of AAP, led by its four MPs has apparently turned against the party’s central leadership, alleging arbitrary functioning and unwanted interference.

In an e-mail, a copy of which has been accessed by Firstpost, one of the MPs has written to the chairman of the AAP’s State Disciplinary Committee, Punjab, alleging that two leaders – one from Delhi and the other from Punjab - ‘would destroy AAP in Punjab’. The MP from Fatehgarh Sahib, Harinder Singh Khalsa names the leaders as Sanjay Singh and Sucha Singh Chotepur.

In the e-mail to Dr Daljit Singh, dated July 6, he writes:

“I think both are out to destroy the spirit of the party. What about the respect for the constitution of the party and respect for the only four MPs of the party elected from Punjab. Is Sanjay Singh bigger than the state executive? And what is the party, is it only Sanjay Singh? I am afraid there is a move to cause disintegration or at least take the spirit out of the party. We will certainly not sit back and let the rotten stuff come to the fore. We will not let the people of Punjab be fooled and betrayed by a handful of non-entities.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. AFPDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. AFP

The chairman of the disciplinary committee acknowledged the letter. “There has been simmering tension among the executive members of Punjab for quite a long time as the convener of Punjab AAP Sucha Singh Chotepur failed to follow the party’s constitution and functioned arbitrarily. He didn’t bother to hold fortnightly meetings, which were mandatory," he said. He also informed that he had received complaints against him and a few other members. “The party members in Punjab have expressed their strong dissatisfaction towards Chotepur and senior leader from Delhi's Sanjay Singh,” he told Firstpost.

The basis of the email was a meeting of three AAP MPs –Dr Dharam Vira Gandhi, MP (Patiala) and Sadhu Singh, MP (Faridkot) besides Khalsa that was held at Patiala.

Surprisingly, Bhagwant Mann, the MP from Sangrur, who has always been in the good books of Kejriwal and had strongly criticized Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan and others for raising an anti-party voice, is now on the other side of the fence. Though, he couldn’t be present in the meeting, he was in touch with the other three over phone, and reportedly expressed his solidarity.

“Three MPs including me had a meeting here in Patiala. We strongly objected to the way the Punjab unit of AAP has been functioning and the growing discontent among the volunteers due to wrong approach adopted by Chotepur and Sanjay Singh. Without consulting us and not taking the members of Punjab unit into confidence, the Delhi leadership headed by Singh, restructured committees. Can a leader from Delhi understand the culture, traditional ethos and psyche of the people of Punjab? Due to this, there is anger among our members and volunteers,” claimed Dharam Vira Gandhi.

He added, “I was already alienated because I raised voice against AAP’s top leadership, after I felt that they have compromised on the core principles of the party. But, now the other three MPs are able to see the truth. Bhagawant Mann wasn’t here, so we had apprised him with the developments, but he would be here in a day or two to discuss the next move.”

Why is there rebellion in Punjab AAP?

Appointment of Sucha Singh Chotepur as AAP’s state convener, who is gradually becoming unpopular and unacceptable to a larger section within the AAP. He contested the Lok Sabha poll from Gurdaspur constituency, but lost.

Allegations against Chotepur: Arbitrary and autocratic functioning, not holding meetings with executive members, not responding to official communications from members and disciplinary committee, attempt to set up a parallel system within the party by alienating the original AAP members and volunteers.

Two important committees – one having all the four MPs—dissolved and a new structure has been set up, allegedly by the Delhi leadership, without consulting the core members of Punjab unit.

AAP’s senior leader and observer for Punjab, Sanjay Singh’s alleged interference in Punjab affairs, and his support to Chotepur.

On 5 May, five executive members of the eight-member committee had met in Delhi. A resolution was passed to remove Chotepur from the post of Punjab convener.

Alleged neglect and disrespect for its MPs by Delhi leaders.

Questioning the decision of the state disciplinary committee by the Delhi leaders.

Fear among AAP volunteers that the developments in Punjab AAP would create an adverse image of the party

“The worst is that both Sanjay Singh and Chotepur are neither an MP nor an MLA, but they are dictating terms to our elected MPs, who are the face of AAP in Parliament. Singh’s style of functioning is unacceptable to volunteers. Delhi’s deputy CM Manish Sisodia had come to Punjab and promised a proper structure from booth-level to district-level for party functioning. But, nothing has been done. There’s a deep frustration among volunteers and many senior members due to negative developments in the party,” an AAP volunteer from Gurdaspur said on anonymity.

Political sociologist, Prof Manjit Singh of Punjab University said, “Basic principle of democracy is that everyone is equal before the law. Here in the case of AAP—the party that claims of having transparency and Swaraj in the system, the basic principles have been compromised. The law and constitution of the party are on one side, while, the decision-makers are on the other. Due to arbitrary functioning of the AAP’s Delhi leadership, the people in Punjab are feeling that the party has been treating the state as a colony.”