AAP rebel group in Punjab to announce district presidents on Oct 24

The rebel group of Punjab AAP Tuesday said it will appoint district presidents of the party on October 24, a move which is expected to further deepen the ongoing crisis in the state unit.

The dissident group of MLAs, led by Bholath legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira, blamed the Aam Aadmi Party for not making any contact with them for resolving differences.

"We have decided to start the process of forming organisational structure of the party. We will announce the names of district presidents of the state unit on October 24," said AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu, who is part of the rebel group.

Besides announcing names of district presidents, changes are various party wings, like youth and women, would be announced on the day, the rebel leaders said.

"We had slowed down the process of forming the organisational structure, thinking they (the party) would contact us. Since no attempt has been made, we have decided to form an organisational structure of the party. Our doors are still open if anybody makes an attempt for unity," said Sandhu.

The rebel AAP leaders will also have a political affairs committee meeting on October 24, said the Kharar legislator. Earlier, the rebel group had formed a 15-member parallel political affairs committee (PAC).

Meanwhile, the core committee of the state unit of AAP Tuesday announced the formation of a five-member coordination committee to reach out to the rebel MLAs.

The decision in the regard was taken in a core committee meeting chaired by MLA Budh Ram here.

The coordination committee will comprise Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, legislators Sarabjit Kaur Manuke, Gurmeet Hayer, Rupinder Kaur Ruby and Kulwant Pandori.

The rebel group had already formed a five-member committee to resolve differences within the state unit of the party.

Earlier, AAP MLA Aman Arora had initiated talks with the dissident group of legislators, led by Khaira.

AAP, as part of its efforts to make peace with "rebels" and "former leaders", had also reached out to the former Punjab convener of AAP, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who was sacked on charges of taking bribe for allotting party tickets.

The party had plunged into a crisis after Khaira was unceremoniously removed from the post of Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.