Setback for patch-up talks, says Khaira
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dissidents led by Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday said the proDelhi AAP leaders’ move to unilaterally name five candidates of the party for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was a setback to talks for reconciliation in the party.
Khaira, whose faction has the backing of eight of the 20 AAP legislators in Punjab, said the party’s sudden decision to name five candidates while unity talks were on with his group, was another instance of arrogance of the pro-Delhi leaders. “Such arrogance was not displayed by even (Punjab chief minister) Capt Amarinder Singh and (SAD president) Sukhbir Singh Badal,” he said at a press conference here. Khaira was accompanied by MLAs Kanwar Sandhu, Jagdev Singh Kamalu and Pirmal Singh Khalsa
The Bholath MLA said such unilateral decisions would harm the party. “If they go it alone (without talking his group along), the party nominees, including those touted as star candidates, will even lose their security deposits. By making the announcement, they have hinted that all the doors for unity are now closed,” he added, raising questions about their sincerity towards the talks.
The AAP leader said the doors for reconciliation talks were still open from his side. The rebel group has decided to extend its November 1 ultimatum to the rival camp for scrapping new appointments for any further dialogue by one week in the interest of the state.
“We will wait for them to reconsider their arbitrary and unilateral decisions and revert to take the talks forward,” he said. Asked if his group was also planning to field its own candidates in the LS elections, he said no discussion had been held on this so far.