New Delhi: A suspended lawmaker of the Aam Admi Party -- which is hoping to make big gains in the coming assembly elections in Punjab -- has announced a Punjab-centric political platform. A decision on forming a new party and contesting elections will be taken later, said Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, who represents Patiala in the Lok Sabha.
For now, such an alternative "can represent the interests and wishes of the people of Punjab," he said. But he also added, "Our endeavour in the 2017 election will be to provide a government in Punjab which will be a government by the Punjabis, of the Punjabis and for the Punjabis".
AAP considers Punjab its strongest base after Delhi, having won four Lok Sabha seats from here with a 25% vote share in the 2014 assembly elections. The party is carrying on a high voltage campaign in Punjab.
This is the second time in two years fissures within the party is coming to the fore, leading to a crisis.
Last year, days after it swept the assembly elections in Delhi, a long-drawn and fierce spat with party chief Arvind Kejriwal had ended in the eviction of AAP's founder members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav. The two leaders had made a number of accusations against Mr Kejriwal and claimed that they wanted "internal democracy" in AAP.
Dr Gandhi's accusations, too, ran on similar lines. AAP, he said, is neglecting leaders from Punjab and its leaders in Delhi are calling the shots. The party, he added, has failed to deliver the alternative politics it had claimed to drive.
"A large number of individuals and many political parties and activist groups have joined hands to liberate Punjab from the clutches of political parties with high command culture," Dr Gandhi said.
Dr Gandhi was suspended by AAP last year for alleged anti-party activities along with its Fatehgarh Sahib lawmaker Harinder Singh Khalsa. Mr Khalsa, however, skipped Tuesday's press meet.
For now, such an alternative "can represent the interests and wishes of the people of Punjab," he said. But he also added, "Our endeavour in the 2017 election will be to provide a government in Punjab which will be a government by the Punjabis, of the Punjabis and for the Punjabis".
This is the second time in two years fissures within the party is coming to the fore, leading to a crisis.
Advertisement
Dr Gandhi's accusations, too, ran on similar lines. AAP, he said, is neglecting leaders from Punjab and its leaders in Delhi are calling the shots. The party, he added, has failed to deliver the alternative politics it had claimed to drive.
Advertisement
Dr Gandhi was suspended by AAP last year for alleged anti-party activities along with its Fatehgarh Sahib lawmaker Harinder Singh Khalsa. Mr Khalsa, however, skipped Tuesday's press meet.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Freedom Fighters Would Not Have Dreamt...": AAP's Atishi On Arvind Kejriwal Delhi High Court Notice To BJP's Bansuri Swaraj On Petition Challenging Her Election No Interim Bail For Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal By Supreme Court Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP CSAB 2024 Supernumerary Round Counselling Registration Begins Today Telangana Women's Commission Orders Probe Into KTR's Remarks What Is The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid's Origin? Scientists Have An Answer Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.