Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 25

The faction-ridden Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab seemed to be heading to a point of no return today with MP Bhagwant Mann saying that Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira would be ousted from AAP soon, “having held meetings and passing resolutions in violation of the party’s political affairs committee”.

He said Khaira’s negative response to the invitation for talks and his recent activities indicated that he was about to form an outfit with the Bains brothers.

Calling Khaira’s meetings and resolutions unconstitutional, Mann said even Kejriwal did not have the authority to pass such resolutions without consultation in the PAC.

To a query on the party’s stand if Khaira continued in the same stream, Mann said, “Then we will have to take disciplinary action. It can’t go on like this. We were thinking he would return. But he has stopped putting Kejriwal’s photographs on posters, has changed the colour of turbans. Now only formality is left.”

On Khaira refusing to take up the offer of talks, he said, “We will oust him, disciplinary action shall be taken.”

Responding to allegations that the MLAs were not given prior information regarding Khaira’s removal as Leader of Opposition, Mann said, “He was not removed by a mere tweet. The Governor got a letter signed by 16 MLAs. So they were consulted.”

About his own resignation over Kejriwal’s apology to SAD leader Bikram Majithia, he said, “I have an objection with the apology. I have not yet withdrawn my resignation. And I won’t. I want a clarification. Kejriwal didn’t even consult us.”