AAP activists clash, wave black flags at Raghav Chadha

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 7

Resentment within the Aam Aadmi Party over the ticket disbursal process came to the fore today as disgruntled local party workers engaged in fisticuffs and laid siege to the venue of state unit co-incharge Raghav Chadha’s press meet here.

Will sort it out

Some hopefuls may not have got the ticket and are disappointed. They are our brothers. We will talk to them. It’s a democracy. — Raghav Chadha, Atate AAP Co-Incharge

While resentment had already been brewing here ever since BJP leader Sheetal Angural, who recently joined the AAP, was fielded from Jalandhar West, workers today protested the candidature of Raman Arora from Jalandhar Central.

While Chadha was here to announce the joining of several leaders, the event turned into a major embarrassment for the party as AAP workers and supporters of one of the candidates clashed with each other. Heated exchanges were witnessed between both sides after which they allegedly manhandled each other.

Earlier, workers holding posters blocked the entry to the venue. They gathered around AAP vehicles and waved black flags at Chadha, delaying his entry to the venue. At one point, Chadha’s car was forced to turn around and had to return again amidst the protests.

Former district president Dr Shiv Dyal Mali, party leader Iqbal Singh Dhindsa and several other workers held a protest against the party leadership.

“Old leadership is driven out every elections. None of the good people are left in the party. A quartet of sycophants is calling the shots. All key organisational posts in the party have been taken over by leaders from Delhi and local leaders and workers are being sidelined,” claimed Dr Mali.

The leaders who joined the party included Dinesh Dhal, former general secretary, Youth Congress; Amit Ratan, a social worker and DPS Walia, brother of former MP Charanjit Singh Walia.