Punjab Newsline | Jalandhar
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is witnessing heightened internal activity following the resignation of six Rajya Sabha MPs from the party, triggering concerns over possible political instability in Punjab.
To address the situation and prevent any further defections among MLAs, Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia called an urgent meeting in Jalandhar today. The meeting lasted for around 3.5 hours and included MLAs as well as nearly 1,000 block observers.
Although officially termed a routine interaction with party observers, confusion prevailed among MLAs regarding the actual agenda. Some described it as a regular organisational meeting, others as a special session, while a few linked it to upcoming municipal elections.
Originally scheduled at the Chief Minister’s residence in Jalandhar, the venue was later shifted to Shahpur City Campus. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann joined the meeting via video conferencing.
Before the meeting began, MLAs and observers participated in informal games, including a tug of war, which was seen as an effort to strengthen coordination and demonstrate unity within the party.
Nakodar MLA Inderjeet Kaur Mann said the meeting is part of a long-running organisational process ahead of the election year. She added that block observers have already prepared ground reports after visiting local areas, which were presented during the session.
Meanwhile, MLA Sonia Mann dismissed concerns over internal dissent, claiming that those who left the party had compromised their ethics and were aligned with rival political interests. She also defended the party leadership, saying such leadership opportunities were created under Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance.
Sonia Mann further asserted that there is no major internal rift, adding that opposition parties are spreading speculation. A press conference by Manish Sisodia is scheduled for 4 PM to address the developments.
