AAP’s Sukhpal Khaira Quits Party, Blames ‘Deviation of Ideology’

Khaira, who was suspended from the party in November last year, resigned from party’s primary membership.

Rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Punjab Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Sunday, 6 January resigned from the party's primary membership, alleging that the party had "totally deviated" from the ideology and principles on which it was formed post the Anna Hazare movement.

Khaira, who was suspended from the party in November last year for indulging in “anti-party” activities, sent his resignation letter to AAP’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

The "current political culture of traditional parties of the country stands badly decayed, due to which immense hope was generated by the formation of AAP," the Bolath MLA said in his resignation letter, copies of which have been released to the media.

“..unfortunately after joining the party I realised that the hierarchy of AAP was no different from the traditional centralised political parties...”

Sukhpal Khaira

If Khaira Wants to Work for His Interests, He Can Go Anywhere: Manish Sisodia

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and Senior AAP leader, Manish Sisodia told ANI, “If he wants to work for the nation, he should stay with us, if he wants to work for his own interests and post, then he can go anywhere, how does it concern us?”

Khaira Has Often Been Critical of AAP

Khaira had been a vocal critic of AAP's leadership since he was removed as leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly in July, last year.

Following his removal, Khaira, along with seven supporters, formed a rebel group which sought autonomy for AAP's Punjab unit.

On 3 January, HS Phoolka, 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims’ lawyer and senior advocate, resigned from the AAP citing disapproval of Arvind Kejriwal’s move to convert the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement from 2012 into a party.

(With inputs from PTI.)