AAP MLAs pick Khaira as leader of Oppn in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: Facing flak for letting its Delhi team call the shots in Punjab elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) showed first signs of shunning the “high-command” culture when its legislators from Punjab were allowed to choose their leader.
The party’s 2o MLAs, in a meeting convened by national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at New Delhi, unanimously conveyed the name of Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira to Kejriwal, who announced that all AAP legislators would like Khaira to lead them. The post had fallen vacant following the resignation of Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka as he could not fight cases of victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots owing to the post being an office of profit with cabinet rank and perks.
Khaira, the Congress-turnedAAP legislator, was among the three choices recommended by Phoolka to succeed him. He emerged as the party’s obvious pick as it needed a Jat-Sikh face. Khaira’s legislative experience also went in his favour. The other two names suggested by Phoolka --- Sunam MLA Aman Arora and Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu --- are first-timers.
Thanking the party, Khaira said, “My elevation to the post has proved that hardwork pays and not money, muscle-power and high-command culture.”
Khaira had been vociferous in demanding more say for state leaders in the party. He also had the backing of the AAP’s ally, Bains brothers of the Lok Insaf Party. Simarjeet Bains and Khaira were both expelled from last month’s budget session and have been working in tandem.
The social media-savvy politician, who was suspended for live streaming assembly proceedings during the session, announced his appointment by going live on Facebook.
POLITICAL INNINGS Khaira started his political innings by losing the Bholath seat as a Congress candidate twice to former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) minister Bibi Jagir Kaur, a Badal loyalist and his bitter political rival. He won it the first time in 2007 but lost it in 2012 a third time to her.
However, Kaur could not be named as candidate by the SAD in 2017 polls following her conviction for being part of the conspiracy in murder of her daughter Harpreet Kaur in 2000.
Khaira had resigned as party’s chief whip in the assembly after his claim on the state presidency of AAP was overlooked for the controversial Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann who was also present at the meeting. Phoolka welcomed the collective decision of the AAP MLAs.