Disheartened by dissidence, AAP workers in Faridkot still believe Arwind Kejriwal can bring revolution

FARIDKOT: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) cadre in Faridkot though take pride in claiming that AAP had succeeded in enlightening voters on their right to question politicians. However, they fall short of answers on the dissidence within the rebellion-riddled party.


Disheartened by its MLAs leaving the party before the Lok Sabha polls, AAP volunteers believe it was grossly unfair that leaders like Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu, who enjoy government facilities being an AAP MLA, extended his support to Punjab Ekta Party (PEP).

AAP had bagged 20 seats in the 2017 Punjab assembly elections but as of now the party is left with only 11 MLAs and is on the verge of losing its status as the main opposition party in the assembly.

“You know, when our family members hear that AAP MLAs are either joining Congress or coming up with their own party, they ask us rationale behind wasting time on such party,” said Kirpal Singh Sandhu (65), a retired officer from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and a committed worker of AAP since 2014. Other AAP volunteers, young and elderly, sitting by Sandhu’s side in the AAP office opposite to the Faridkot police lines, nod their heads in support.

Dharamjeet Singh (37), Faridkot district president of AAP, says many people joined AAP initially just to serve their own interests and now they have been exposed. “We had gone to meet Kanwar Sandhu to work collectively and strengthen the party, but neither is he resigning as MLA nor stopping his anti-party activities.” he said.

Though, former AAP MLA from Jaito, Baldev Singh is contesting parliamentary election against AAP’s Sadhu Singh but people are criticising him for this betrayal, says another AAP volunteer and a retired teacher of Punjabi University, Bhupinder Singh Sandhu. Sadhu had won the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat in 2014 by a margin of over 1.72 lakh votes.

However, those still associated with the AAP, despite party facing rough weather, have an unflinching faith in party convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal .

With Kejriwal slated to visit Faridkot parliamentary constituency on May 16 for a roadshow, one can see volunteers, including rickshaw pullers and sweepers, coming to AAP’s Faridkot office and asking for assignment of duties. “Our sitting MP from Faridkot, Sadhu Singh has spent his entire fund of Rs 25 crore in development related work in the last five years. The details of which are available online. That has put him in good stead and we are confident of his victory,” said Kirpal.