Senior APP leaders defy Chhotepur, announce support to Salaria
By Vijay Pal Brar
Chandigarh, October 9,2017: A day ahead of the polling for Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, differences have appeared in the leadership of Apna Punjab Party (APP) led by Sucha Singh Chhotepur.
A day after Chhotepur announced the party stand of asking the voters to vote for a candidate with a clean image, two senior leaders Hardeep Singh Kingra and RR Bhardwaj took an opposite stand.
At a news conference here on Monday, Kingra and Bhardwaj announced support to BJP-SAD candidate Swaran Salaria.
Kingra claimed that they took this decision after consulting Chhotepur but this was challenged soon after by two other senior APP leaders Joga Singh Chappar and Tarlochan Singh Lalli.
Both asserted that Kingra and Bhardwaj took the decision in personal capacity contrary top the party's official stand.
The party could take disciplinary action against Kingra and Bhardwaj, both added.
Chhotepur has not commented on this development to clarify the situation. His mobile phone remained in switch-off mode throughout the day and hence could not be reached for his version despite attempts.