The faction led by Gurmail Singh Malsihan, an advocate in his seventies, will be either called Aam Aadmi Party Punjab or Rashtriya Aam Aadmi Party. The faction led by Gurmail Singh Malsihan, an advocate in his seventies, will be either called Aam Aadmi Party Punjab or Rashtriya Aam Aadmi Party.

Months after Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan parted ways from the Aam Aadmi Party to form a new group, a new faction from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has decided to desert it and launch a separate political outfit.

The faction led by Gurmail Singh Malsihan, an advocate in his seventies, will be either called Aam Aadmi Party Punjab or Rashtriya Aam Aadmi Party.

While Malsihan will be the president of the new party, Rajpal Singh, a 44-year-old automobile manfacturer, will be its general secretary. Talking to reporters on Sunday, Rajpal said the new outfit will contest from all seats in Punjab in the 2017 assembly elections.

Asked if the party would be regional one, Rajpal said, “We are already in touch with volunteers from four state- Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They are feeling betrayed due to the hypocrisy of Kejriwal. We have started from Punjab but it will be a national movement.”

Rajpal added that the party will soon be registered as all documents are ready and have been sent to the Election Commission. “Our first choice for naming the party is Aam Aadmi Party Punjab. However, if some issues crop up, then it would be Rashtriya Aam Aadmi Party.”

“This party would be a lesson for those people like Kejriwal who turned their back to the volunteers. It was the volunteers who made Kejirwal what he is today. He has forgotten the blood and sweat put in by volunteers and now power is everything for him. The Lokpal Bill which was the top agenda of AAP has been thrown away. Even the Swaraj principles on which party was formed have been long forgotten,” said Rajpal.

“We all joined AAP leaving our businesses and jobs dreaming for a better India, but AAP leaders turned into a nuisance after getting power,” said Gurmail Singh. He added that party may join hands with Yogendra Yadav if things work out. “All options are open presently,” said Singh.

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