AAP women’s leader defects to Akalis in Ludhiana West

Ludhiana: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a setback on Wednesday as Preeti Malhotra, former president of its women's wing, defected to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), bringing a number of her supporters along with her. The move bolsters SAD's campaign significantly in the Ludhiana West constituency.SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal welcomed Preeti Malhotra into the party officially and asserted that grassroots AAP workers were demoralized increasingly and quitting the party because "outsiders" had taken control in Punjab. "Punjabis joined AAP to work for the state, but now realise that outsiders rule the roost and that they don't have any say in the party," Sukhbir claimed. He further alleged that chief minister Bhagwant Mann had been "marginalized completely" and was operating as a "puppet of (AAP supremo) Arvind Kejriwal". He also claimed that state ministers were mere "figureheads" with external individuals responsible for clearing govt files.Financial, policing concerns raisedSukhbir criticised the AAP govt's financial management, highlighting that govt employees had not yet received their salaries. He warned that the state's financial situation was expected to worsen, noting that the AAP administration had borrowed About Rs 1 lakh crore in the last three years with little to show in terms of development or infrastructure. He claimed that efforts to borrow more funds were meeting roadblocks due to permissible limits and "financial mismanagement". On law and order, Sukhbir contended the situation had deteriorated, citing daily extortion threats faced by businessmen and threats to social harmony, including "desecrations of statues of B R Ambedkar". Malhotra cites empty promisesSpeaking at the event, Preeti Malhotra explained her decision to leave AAP, citing the party's failure to implement its promise of providing women with a monthly stipened of Rs 1,000 each. She claimed to have been told the this kind of promises were "made to win elections and were not necessary to implement". She also accused the state's AAP govt of granting all chairmanships to individuals from outside Punjab and of failing to create jobs for the state's youth. Senior SAD members, including Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Amarjit Singh Chawla, Kamal Chatley, Surmender Sira, and Ludhiana West candidate Parupkar Singh Ghumman, were present. MSID:: 121778592 413 |