The AAP, as part of its efforts to make peace with “rebels” and “former leaders”, has reached out to ex-Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, two years after he was sacked on charges of taking bribe for allotting party tickets.
On the directions of the Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal, emissaries from its Punjab unit met Mr. Chhotepur at his residence on Sunday night to persuade him to come back to the party.
The emissaries included Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Harpal Singh Cheema, AAP’s State unit co-president Balbir Singh and MLAs Baljinder Kaur and Meet Hayer.
“We have met Chhotepurji and we want him to come back in the party,” Mr. Cheema said here on Monday.
“The discussion centred on coming together for the future of Punjab. The AAP is people’s choice as the SAD has been rejected by voters,” he added.
Mr. Cheema said he was very positive about the meeting and discussion.
However, Mr. Chhotepur said he could not forget what the party had done to him.
“I asked them why they want me to return to the party which caused me immense pain...I was insulted. I cannot forget what the party did to me,” he said, without mincing words, in Delhi.
“I talked to them openly about the party’s functioning, like unnecessary interference (by the national leadership) in the State unit. I told them the talks cannot go ahead if they cannot take the corrective steps I suggested,” he added.
Mr. Chhotepur claimed he was not after any position.
“No talks were held about (me) returning to the party. After 2016, it was for the first time that AAP leaders met me,” he said.
