Rebellion in AAP against party’s mayoral candidate

LUCKNOW: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was the first to announce mayoral candidate for Lucknow and is now also the first to face rebellion against the same.

Discontent is simmering among the party cadre against its mayoral candidate Priyanka Maheshwari, who is wife of former district coordinator Gaurav Maheshwari.

A section of the party is demanding cancellation of Priyanka’s candidature.

AAP workers are all set to raise the issue before Sanjay Singh, Uttar Pradesh incharge of the party, on Monday who would be in the state capital to announce AAP’s manifesto for civic polls. The party cadre has levelled serious allegations of their signatures being forged on a proposal recommending Priyanka’s name.

Senior AAP leader Rekha Kumar said, “Without discussing names of probable candidates in the party forum, Priyanka’s name was announced for the mayoral election.”

Her selection also raises a question mark on district coordinator’s motive, added Kumar.

After Priyanka’s selection, her husband Gaurav resigned from the post of district coordinator

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Party workers met me and raised questions on selection of Priyanka Maheshwari as mayoral candidate. They also handed me a protest letter demanding cancellation of her candidature. As the matter is serious, I have apprised zonal coordinator of the party. VAIBHAV MAHESHWARI, state spokesperson, AAP

in accordance with the party’s constitution where husband and wife cannot hold two posts.

Kamlendra Singh was appointed new district coordinator, Lucknow. His appointment has also come under criticism.

According to AAP’s constitution, only zonal committee can appoint a district coordinator.

However, in Kamlendra Singh’s case, no consent of the zonal committee was taken before declaring him district coordinator.

Zonal coordinator of AAP, Brij Kumari has also been apprised about the issue.

Party’s state spokesperson Vaibhav Maheshwari met Brij Kumari at her residence last week along with members of the women wing, district committee and other party workers to apprise her about the issue.

“Party workers met me and raised serious questions on selection procedure of Priyanka Maheshwari as mayoral candidate. They also handed me a protest letter demanding cancellation of her candidature,” said Vaibhav who added further, “As the matter is serious, I have apprised zonal coordinator about the issue and also state incharge of the party.”

Meanwhile, party’s district committee member Sangeeta Singh has also come out openly against Priyanka’s candidature.

“I was asked to sign two proposals prepared on backdate recommending Priyanka’s candidature and appointment of Kamlendra Singh as district coordinator, which I refused,” said Singh.

No procedure was followed before announcing mayoral candidate and appointing new district coordinator, she added.

Now, the AAP’s inter wrangling has come out in open and it does not augur well for the party just before civic polls.