Discontent in AAP over Ludhiana candidate; action in Sahnewal too

Volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Ludhiana (West) on Thursday objected to the candidature of Ahbaab Grewal from the constituency, demanding a change in the candidate.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Col Dr DS Grewal (retd) and Dr AS Bains said more than 300 volunteers from the constituency had signed a petition, requesting the party chief and convener Arvind Kejriwal to change the candidate.

They said almost 90% of the volunteers felt that the party committed a mistake by choosing Ahbaab as the candidate.

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They said that they had already conveyed the cadres’ feelings to the senior party leaders. “We have submitted a representation to the state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur,” said Bains.

They, however, said party’s observer for the Ludhiana parliamentary seat, Amrish Trikha, was not forwarding their representation to the leaders at the top. “We are forced to hold this press conference so that our voice reaches the party chief Arvind Kejriwal,” said Col Grewal.

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They said there was a collective feeling among the volunteers that Ahbaab lacked the qualities of a leader to qualify to be the AAP candidate. “There are allegations against him and his integrity is being questioned,” said Col Grewal, adding ‘use of party funds’ by him is also under investigation.

When asked if have someone in mind to replace Ahbaab, Bains said there were 8-9 people and any one of them will be a better choice. “There are retired army officers, a doctor, a university professor; any one of them will be acceptable to us,” he said.

3 office-bearers suspended for anti-party activities

Ludhiana: Three office-bearers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Sahnewal were suspended from the party for three months for alleged anti-party activities.

Those suspended are AAP’s youth wing zonal in-charge (Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha constituency) Jagvir Singh Jaggi; Daljinder Singh Saini (vice zonal in-charge of the trade wing of Fatehgarh Sahib) and in-charge of Sahnewal constituency Ajay Panesar.

Sources said the trio was opposing party’s candidate from Sahnewal, Harjot Singh Bains, and recently, a group of the volunteers had raised “Harjot Bains go back” slogans outside the party office there. The protesters claimed that Bains was an outsider and wanted either Jaggi or Panesar as the AAP candidate from Sahnewal.

Ashutosh Tandon, media in-charge of AAP for Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, said the zone in-charge Varinder Khara suspended them for their alleged anti-party activities.

When contacted, Ajay Panesar said, “I am surprised at our suspension. It is an injustice. I hope that Arvind Kejriwal will do justice with us as we have been working for AAP for more than three years with dedication and honesty.”

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