CM Bhagwant Mann defends party stand over denied tickets
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has clarified the situation regarding several leaders not getting tickets in the Aam Aadmi Party's second list. He said that everyone cannot contest elections and there are various other responsibilities within the party organization.
Following the release of the Aam Aadmi Party's second list for the Punjab assembly elections, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended the party's decisions on Friday. He said that it is not possible to field every leader in the electoral arena and there are other important tasks within the organization besides election tickets.
Responding to a question about Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian not being given a ticket, the Chief Minister said without taking names that the party takes these decisions. He stated that some leaders are assigned organizational work and they work behind the scenes. He said tickets can change because there are only 117 assembly seats while the party's scope is very large.
The Chief Minister said that out of the 31 candidates announced in the second list, 25 are new faces. Mentioning himself, he said that in 2017 the party asked him to contest from Jalalabad and he accepted the party's order despite not being the chief ministerial face. He clarified that the party is supreme and he is not among those who change parties upon not getting a ticket.
Regarding discussions of internal resentment within the party, the Chief Minister said that not many people are angry, but feeling disappointed due to not getting a ticket is natural. On the other hand, Lambi MLA Gurmeet Singh Khudian has said that he accepts the party's decision gracefully and will campaign for his nephew's victory.
Meanwhile, opposition has surfaced within the party after actress Sonia Man was announced as the candidate from the Rajasansi constituency. Punjab Dairy Development Board Director Sukhdeep Singh Cheena, former constituency in-charge Rajbir Singh, and Scheduled Caste wing coordinator Gurdev Singh Joban Jhanjoti have resigned from party posts and primary membership.
In his resignation sent to party president Aman Arora, Sukhdeep Singh Cheena accused the party of ignoring old workers. He said that colleagues who have worked hard for years have been overlooked and questioned the ticket distribution method.
Key developments
- AAP released second list of 31 candidates, including 25 new faces
- Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian denied ticket; Khudian accepted the decision
- Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said everyone cannot get a ticket in the party
- Three office-bearers resigned protesting Sonia Man's candidacy in Rajasansi
