LOP Cheema seeks Khaira’s disqualification from assembly

SANGRUR/CHANDIGARH: Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Dirba MLA Harpal Singh Cheema met speaker Rana KP Singh in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

“I have submitted an application to the speaker and demanded disqualification of suspended AAP MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s membership from the assembly, under the 10th schedule of the Constitution of India,” Cheema said.

AAP had taken the decision of Khaira’s termination after the consent of a 22-member core committee. Cheema said that this was because Khaira continued his ‘anti-party activities despite repeated attempts of reconciliation’. In a spate of resignations of AAP members of legislative assembly (MLAs) from the party and amid speculations of AAP losing the position of main opposition in the state assembly, Cheema said discipline in the party is crucial.

“If MLAs are not disciplined, any party will collapse. Party principles are far more important than my position as the LoP,” Cheema added.

On January 6, Khaira had resigned from primary membership of AAP, accusing it of ‘deviating from the ideologies and principles on which it was formed’.

Last week, he had floated a new political outfit — Punjabi Ekta Party. “When Khaira resigned from primary membership of AAP, we were waiting for him to resign from the assembly as well. But now, we have come seeking his disqualification. He is not an AAP member anymore and so, has no right to remain an MLA,” said Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann.

ON JANUARY 6, KHAIRA HAD RESIGNED FROM THE PRIMARY MEMBERSHIP OF AAP