Ghuggi quits AAP 2 days after Mann replaced him as party’s Punjab chief

Gurpreet Singh Waraich, popularly known as Ghuggi, resigned from the primary membership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday, two days after he was removed from the post of Punjab unit convener to make way for Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann.

“I am upset with the way I was removed. I can’t work under the leadership of a person who has been appointed (by party convener Arvind Kejriwal) on the condition that he will not drink (alcohol). With a heavy heart, I give up the primary membership of the AAP,” he told reporters at a press conference here.

Ghuggi said that during his tenure as a convener, he led the party through the crisis and tried to bring big leaders on board who could have made AAP victorious in Punjab but all of them were stopped from entering the party.

He said there were complaints against the 54 observers stationed in Punjab during the assembly polls but AAP’s Delhi leadership was not willing to listen.

‘WHAT WAS THE HURRY TO MAKE HIM CHIEF?’

“The way Bhagwant Mann was reprimanded by Kejriwal when he was being made state president, with the condition that if he’s found drinking he will be removed from the party’s top post and later Mann saying he will step down if caught drinking, was not the right way of saying things,” said Ghuggi.

The 45-year-old comedianturned-politician said Mann is a good performer but at this stage he is not in a position to hold the reins of the party.

Ghuggi said that the party could have made member of parliament( MP) from Patiala, Dharamvira Gandhi, Punjab president, and if it was not willing to bring back a suspended leader, Sukhpal Singh Khaira could have been considered for the post of state president.

“What was the hurry to make Mann president without taking volunteers into confidence?” he said.

I am upset with the way I was removed. I can’t work under the leadership of a person (Bhagwant Mann) who has been appointed on the condition that he will not drink (alcohol). GURPREET SINGH WARAICH (GHUGGI), former AAP leader

HT FILE Gurpreet Ghuggi (left) said that as a convener, he led the AAP through crisis and tried to bring big leaders on board.