In damage-control mode, AAP asks Delhi observers to leave Punjab

Rushing to control the damage, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday decided to “send back” the 13 zone observers appointed by party’s national organisation building in-charge Durgesh Pathak.

The central observers, all from the Delhi team of the AAP, were appointed in July 2015 and were responsible for building the party’s organisation in each parliamentary constituency. They were the “eyes and ears” of Pathak in Punjab and had been given almost unbridled control over local leaders, volunteers and workers. A top leader of the party said they have been asked to report back to Delhi with immediate effect.

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The Delhi observers had become a rallying point for the local AAP leaders, who spilt from the party on Friday, throwing their weight behind party’s sacked convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur. The move is clearly aimed at wooing some of those who had shifted to the Chhotepur camp.

HAD BECOME LIABILITIES

Chhotepur supporters had alleged that these observers were behaving like “conduits” for the Delhi leaders, dealing with aspiring candidates for assembly tickets and even positions in the government if the AAP came to power.

A close aide of Chhotepur, Hardip Singh Kingra, released an audio recording of the Ludhiana zone observer Ambrish Trikha “demanding” `5 lakh from an AAP worker of Sarmala to facilitate a meeting with Pathak. An inquiry was ordered into the audio recording, even as Pathak denied he had anything to do with the conversation.

With the AAP virtually imploding, it is also expecting more dirty linen to be washed in the public by Chhotepur supporters in the coming days. The former convener’s supporters have been asked to gather “proofs” against the Delhi team, which will then be systematically made public through press conferences.

“We have been collecting funds from supporters for a cause, not for personal use. We demand to know the financial arrangement of the party with these 13 zone and 39 sector observers. How much money they have been paid since last year and what is the work that they did? The NRIs, who are sending hard-earned money to the party, have a right to know,” said JS Dhariwal, one of the seven zone coordinators, backing Chhotepur.

OPEN TO TALKS WITH FOURTH FRONT

In another conciliatory move, party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh said on Saturday that the AAP’s doors were open to the members of the fourth front for talks and a mutual agreement. “All those who are opposed to the Akalis should work together. Every separate group will only help Akalis,” he said when asked if the front had been created because AAP had ignored Sidhu, Pargat Singh and the Bains brothers. “Talks are never closed,” he said.

Responding to Sanjay Singh’s comment, members of the newly formed fourth front — Awaaz-e-Punjab — independent legislator Simarjeet Bains said they would take a decision in this regard after a meeting with all members of their front and under the guidance of their leader, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu.

“We can neither say we are open to talks nor are we saying that all our doors are shut for any talks of a possible reconciliation with the AAP. It will be discussed with our front members and only then we will be in a position to say something,” Bains said.

(With inputs from Aneesha Sareen in Ludhiana)