Punjab: Khaira resigns from AAP's primary membership

Chandigarh: AAP's rebel MLA from Punjab Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Sunday resigned from primary membership of the party, alleging that the party had "totally deviated" from the ideology and principles on which it was formed.

The 53-year-old Khaira, a former Congressman who had joined the Aam Aadmi Party in December 2015 -- nearly a year before the last Punjab assembly polls, sent his resignation to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. "I am constrained to forward my resignation from the primary membership of AAP as the party has totally deviated from the ideology and principles on which it was formed post the Anna Hazare movement," the Bolath MLA said in his resignation letter, copies of which have been released to the media.

"Although you have already rewarded our good work by humiliatingly suspending me and Kanwar Sandhu from the party but still I want to formalise the disconnection with you and AAP, by quitting its primary membership," Khaira said. The rebel leader has been a vocal critic of AAP leadership since he was removed as leader of opposition (LoP) in Punjab Assembly in July last year.

Khaira, along with Sandhu, was also suspended from AAP for indulging in "anti-party" activities in November last year.

Launching a no-holds-barred attack on Kejriwal, Khaira said, "I am saddened to state that your dictatorial attitude has shattered the dreams of Indians and Punjabis for a clean alternative to the decayed and rotten system." He said, "As a result, almost all prominent leaders, beginning from Prashant Bhushan to Phoolka, have either quit the party or you have thrown them out."