Chhotepur quits AAP, says Kejri trusts no Punjabi
CHANDIGARH: Ousted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur resigned from the party on Friday.
Chhotepur, who was sacked last month following a ‘cash sting’, is expected to float his new political outfit, Apna Punjab Party, on Saturday.
In a stinging attack on AAP leadership, Chhotepur --- in his resignation letter that was addressed to national convener Arvind Kejriwal --- said despite his hard work, he wasn’t given any authority or recognition.
“It’s a matter of deep anguish and pain resigning from the primary membership of AAP. My loyalty to you (Kejriwal) and the party remained unquestionable. However, for reasons best known to you, I was not given any authority or functional powers,” he wrote.
Chhotepur said Kejriwal didn’t have faith in the party’s Punjab leadership. “You did not trust Punjab leadership including me and kept these things within the domain of Delhi leaders such as Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak, who repeatedly humiliated me,” he added.
He said he had worked hard to build the party that he joined in 2014. “The party, however, preferred to keep me the state head without any power and resources. I had no funds at my disposal.… I raised certain issues for the betterment of party which included the distribution of tickets. This was construed as a hostile act…. For this, I was unceremoniously removed from my post. Even my integrity was questioned without any proof,” he said.
He added that the AAP had drifted away from the ideals which fascinated Punjab’s people. “The party is now run by a bunch of sycophants (people from within and outsiders) who are remote- controlled from Delhi. The outsiders have made honest, hardworking, self-respecting and dedicated Punjabis as their slaves by luring them with tickets and posts,” he said.