Groupism, particularly over the leadership issue in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the district level, is the biggest hurdle in allowing the state unit to assume any formidable form on the ground level.
Huge response to rallies all over the state could lose out their steam as leaders are pushing themselves against their own party members to cement individual supremacy in their areas.
The party leadership in Delhi has decided not to give leadership to local leaders in their individual areas. On the ground, “the inherent flair for leadership” among Punjabis is not allowing easy entry to appointed outsiders.
The appointment of outsiders is being challenged. Dossiers against alleged anti-party activities of many appointed outsiders are being forwarded to the party leadership.
In case of Bathinda, the party had appointed Narender Pal from Bhagta as the observer for the Lok Sabha constituency. Party workers sent a dossier against him to the national convener of the party Arvind Kejriwal and state in charge Sanjay Singh highlighting his alleged involvement in a Rs 8.5 lakh scam.
The party has also forwarded allegations against an office-bearer of the state high command for her alleged involvement in a land scam. Reliable sources said that the party high command had received different complaints against appointed observers from other districts as well.
A senior party leader said, “At the district level, names of imposed leaders are often linked to camps of Chottepur, HS Phoolka and Bhagwant Mann creating confusion among the workers.”
State convener of the party Sucha Singh Chhotepur said, “Except for small leadership issues which are inherent in the Punjabi psyche, the huge response that AAP is drawing all over the state is signalling a new dawn in state politics. The names of leaders including me don’t matter any longer. A change of guard is in the offing.”
The findings regarding problems in the AAP state unit form part of a detailed 45-day survey carried out under the supervision of Durgeshwar Mishra in April-May. At least 13 persons in the team interviewed at least 10,000 voters in 945 villages.
Besides, the state-appointed in charge of 39 sectors that the AAP has divided Punjab into, the party high command has appointed independent observers from outside.
Huge response to rallies all over the state could lose out their steam as leaders are pushing themselves against their own party members to cement individual supremacy in their areas.
The party leadership in Delhi has decided not to give leadership to local leaders in their individual areas. On the ground, “the inherent flair for leadership” among Punjabis is not allowing easy entry to appointed outsiders.
The appointment of outsiders is being challenged. Dossiers against alleged anti-party activities of many appointed outsiders are being forwarded to the party leadership.
In case of Bathinda, the party had appointed Narender Pal from Bhagta as the observer for the Lok Sabha constituency. Party workers sent a dossier against him to the national convener of the party Arvind Kejriwal and state in charge Sanjay Singh highlighting his alleged involvement in a Rs 8.5 lakh scam.
The party has also forwarded allegations against an office-bearer of the state high command for her alleged involvement in a land scam. Reliable sources said that the party high command had received different complaints against appointed observers from other districts as well.
A senior party leader said, “At the district level, names of imposed leaders are often linked to camps of Chottepur, HS Phoolka and Bhagwant Mann creating confusion among the workers.”
State convener of the party Sucha Singh Chhotepur said, “Except for small leadership issues which are inherent in the Punjabi psyche, the huge response that AAP is drawing all over the state is signalling a new dawn in state politics. The names of leaders including me don’t matter any longer. A change of guard is in the offing.”
The findings regarding problems in the AAP state unit form part of a detailed 45-day survey carried out under the supervision of Durgeshwar Mishra in April-May. At least 13 persons in the team interviewed at least 10,000 voters in 945 villages.
Besides, the state-appointed in charge of 39 sectors that the AAP has divided Punjab into, the party high command has appointed independent observers from outside.
