AAP rebel group threatens to set up own organisational structure

The rebel faction of the AAP's Punjab unit Wednesday criticised the party's announcement of new office bearers and threatened to set up its own organisational structure if the appointments are not scrapped by November 1.

The development comes a day after the warring factions held talks here to iron out differences ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The members of the two groups had described the meeting as "positive" and "fruitful".

"On one hand they hold unity talks and then they issue a press release making announcements of new district presidents. We are hurt and saddened by this decision. It should not have happened," rebel faction leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira told reporters here.

"With these appointments it is clear they want to appoint their own men," he claimed.

"This decision raises a question about their intention (to patch up). They should scarp these appointments if they want to have an honest dialogue with us," he said.

Following a meeting of its core committee Tuesday, the the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) announced appointments of three district and eight constituency presidents, besides giving the charge of its Punjab kisan and transports cells to two MLAs.

Khaira said his faction had earlier decided to announce the names of 26 district presidents.

"But our political affairs committee has now decided not to announce the names of the new district presidents despite the fact that the list is ready," he said.

"We will wait till November 1. After that we will we forced to form our own organisational structure, up to the booth-level," he said.

The rebel faction had blamed the AAP's defunct organisational structure for the party's humiliating defeat in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-election, Shahkot Assembly by-election and zila parishad polls.

"In our meeting (on Monday), which was detailed one, we had sought scrapping of the current organisational structure and resignation of the leader of opposition (in Punjab Assembly)," said Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu, a member of the dissident group.

"We had also said the basis of talks would be the six resolutions passed at a volunteers' convention at Bathinda on August 2. If they agree to it then talks can be held," he said.

Sandhu said as a matter of principle, the AAP leadership should not have made the new appointments when the unity talks are underway.

The rebel group had already set up an ad hoc political affairs committee to monitor and supervise the reconstitution of the entire political structure of the state in August this year.

The AAP's Punjab unit plunged into a crisis when the party leadership appointed Harpal Singh Cheema as the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly on July 26, replacing Khaira. Eight of the party's MLAs revolted against the decision.