Chhotepur

Meanwhile, hectic parleys marked Thursday for both sides. Chhotepur held a meeting in the morning with some AAP leaders, after which he put up on Facebook and Twitter the announcement about his press conference. Within hours of that, the letter to Kejriwal seeking Chhotepur’s removal was made public. Party sources said the letter was read out to leaders who were not available to sign it and their consent was taken over the phone.

A part of the letter reads: “We are highly upset and disappointed to see media reports in regards to acceptance of bribe by state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur. For past few weeks there had been whispers across Punjab about his conduct and practices but his confession in an interview with Hindustan Times and also to some party leaders demands an immediate action by Political Affairs Committee of Party. The leadership and the volunteers of AAP Punjab urge to sack present convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur without any delay and to replace him with an honest person to take this movement forward.”

Those who “signed” the letter or consented to its contents include senior leader HS Phoolka, Shergill, spokespersons Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Yamini Gomar, youth wing chief Harjot Singh Bains, women wing chief Baljinder Kaur, and Jagtar Singh Sanghera, among others.

In the ongoing internal tussle, Chhotepur expressed objections over the two lists of candidates announced earlier this month, and has been waiting for an appointment to meet Kejriwal. He was absent at both press conferences where the lists, containing 32 names so far out of 117, were revealed.