Old guard stays away as youth march ahead in race for ticket

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
The entrance to the AAP office in Jalandhar lies closed. For over a month, the office has been missing the hustle and bustle and the frequent gatherings which it earlier was marked with.
While Jalandhar has lakhs of AAP supporters, the majority of volunteers, supporters and groups are now lying low, neutralised or silent following the recent suspension of two MPs — Dharmavira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa from the party — and before them, state disciplinary committee member Dr Daljit Singh.
While the MPs still have the support of a large section of the old guard, the old workers' disillusionment primarily comes from the fact that the majority of the new recruits, wing in charges and zonal observers were never part of any of the party's old movements and struggles.
While the recent Nakodar rally — held by Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, PAC member Sanjay Singh and state convener — was a huge success in the district, insiders say the old volunteers have primarily stayed away while the new brigade of workers as well as aspirants seeking tickets for the 2017 elections are key to this mobilisation of crowds.
‘New office-bearers weren’t part of struggle’
The disillusionment primarily comes from the fact that the majority of the new recruits, wing in charges and zonal observers were never part of any of the party’s old movements and struggles
 
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