Day after upheaval, state AAP cochief hands out posts

CHARGES Appoints 3 new general secys, district chiefs and halqa incharges besides observers of 40 assembly segments

CHANDIGARH: A day after 16 party leaders resigned from their posts to show their protest against some “arbitrary decisions”, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state unit co-president Dr Balbir Singh on Monday appointed new general secretaries and district chiefs as well as assigned duties to 14 other office-bearers in the state.

He appointed three new general secretaries, district presidents of Jalandhar rural and Tarn Taran, and halqa in-charges of Khemkaran, SBS Nagar and Chabbewal, besides appointing 14 state general secretaries as observers of 40 assembly segments in the state.

The appointments were made hours after 16 party leaders, including six district chiefs, had sent a joint resignation to Delhi deputy chief minister and in-charge of Punjab affairs Manish Sisodia against the state co-president’s style of functioning and decisions, including removal of advocate Gian Singh Mungo from the post of Patiala rural district chief.

Brushing aside their allegations, Balbir Singh said he was making changes to try and prepare the party for the coming panchayat and parliamentary elections.

“When I took charge, 27 state unit general secretaries and seven vice-presidents had no work and 60 assembly segments had no observers. I asked them to give their preferences and I am now assigning them areas so that they give impetus to party activities there,” he said, signalling more appointments in coming weeks.

Singh said there were officebearers or district in-charges who did not have time to undertake party work or were abroad for a long period of time. “We cannot let this affect the party. Only such people are protesting,” he added.

The new appointments and the co-president’s statement are likely to rile the disgruntled leaders further even as leader of opposition Sukhpal Khaira and some other MLAs have urged them to meet Sangrur MP and state party chief Bhagwant Mann to voice their concerns.

Bhapinder Singh Bittu and Harjinder Singh Seechewal will be the new districts chiefs of Tarn Taran and Jalandhar Rural, whereas Raman Kumar, Tajinder Pal Singh and Vijay Gill have been appointed general secretaries at the state level.

Punjab AAP vice-president and in-charge of Patiala rural constituency Karanvir Singh Tiwana, who also quit his post on Sunday, said there was no question of taking the resignation back. “We will continue to work for the party as ordinary members, but are not going to hold any position in the party so long as Balbir Singh is the state unit co-president,” he said.

BRING BACK GANDHI, KHALSA, SAYS PHOOLKA

Dakha MLA HS Phoolka said the party should try to bring back Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi and Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa into its fold. “They are both senior people. Gandhi is doing very good work. Efforts should be made to pave way for their return,” he said, refusing to comment on the latest trouble in the faction-ridden party.

Gandhi and Khalsa were suspended from the primary membership of the AAP for alleged “indiscipline and anti-party activities” about three years ago. In May, some other party leaders had also favoured revocation of their suspension.

› I am making changes to prepare the party for the upcoming panchayat and parliamentary elections.

BALBIR SINGH, AAP state co-president