Big Breaking : Kejriwal Approaches Chhotepur To Revive AAP In Punjab
Baljit Balli / Raju Willliam
Chandigarh, Sept 17, 2018: As a desperate attempt to save the floundering party structure in Punjab, AAP National Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached former state president Sucha Singh Chhotepur.
As part of this course correction measure, a team of Kejriwal loyalist senior AAP Punjab leaders led by Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema and Co-Convener Dr Balbir Singh held a long meeting with Chhotepur on night of September 16, 2018, party sources told babushahi.com.
It is learnt that the team members requested Chhotepur to return to the party fold and play a leading role in bringing the party back on rails in the state. He was apprised that it was on Kejriwal’s instructions that efforts have been renewed to bring the warring AAP Punjab leaders back on one platform. The meeting was held at the mohali residence of Chhotepur . AAP woman leader and MLA Baljinder Kaur was also part of Kejriwal team.
Sources said that Chhotepur, who was unceremoniously expelled from the party before Assembly election in 2017, minced no words in venting his ire over the treatment meted out to him by the AAP leadership.
Though Chhotepur welcomed the team, he made it clear to its members that it would take long to forget the damage the party did to his reputation and integrity. He told them that he was highly disappointed after false and baseless allegations were leveled against him.
However, he struck a conciliatory note saying he might consider the party’s offer if an unconditional public apology was made to him. He is learnt to have left the scope open for his re-entry into the party fold again.
The initiator of the meeting was Malwa AAP leader Manjit Singh Sidhu ( Bitti ) . Manjit Sidhu was accompanied by Karnvir Tiwana and Gian Singh Moongu.
Chhotepur, when contacted confirmed the meeting but refused to comment on the outcome but he said he can't forget his bitter experience and how he was dealt and humiliated on false allegations with by AAP leadership.
Punjab AAP team also hinted that Bhagwant Mann may be the part of AAP negotiator team in the next meeting.