AAP names Bhagwant Mann as Punjab president; Khaira stops posts

Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) on Monday reported Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann would be its new Punjab unit president and AAP lawmaker and mogul representative Aman Arora the co-president.

"The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of Aam Aadmi Party today endorsed guide to patch up the Punjab unit of the gathering and chosen to delegate Bhagwant Mann, MP from Sangrur, as state President (convener) and Aman Arora MLA from Sunam as Co-President (Co-Convener).

"Sarabjit Kaur Manuke MLA from Jagraon has been delegated Deputy Leader of the Legislature party in Vidhan Sabha," an AAP representative said in Chandigarh.

The PAC, headed by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, affirmed the new arrangements after marathon meeting with AAP administrators, zone in-charges and heads of frontal associations of its Punjab unit.

"The national administration held balanced gatherings and aggregate chat with MLAs and other office bearers before taking ultimate conclusions in the PAC," the representative included.

"In another huge choice, the gathering has chosen to constitute isolate PAC for Punjab so that the state unit may take its free choices of political issues Apertaining to express," the representative said.

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AAP eyes Punjab, Goa to spread footprint

NEW DELHI: Battling the perception that it is no longer the force it was on its home turf of Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party's bid to boost its national fortunes hangs on its score in the Punjab and Goa polls.

After a stunning success in the 2015 Delhi assembly elections, AAP is focusing on expanding beyond the capital, looking to assert itself as a significant challenger in what have been two-horse races.

The state polls will also impact the atmospherics of Delhi's municipal elections due soon. Though civic polls often reflect local issues, AAP's show in Punjab and Goa will be a scene setter. A win in Punjab will boost AAP as it looks to arrest BJP's winning streak in municipal polls. With Delhi's civic polls appearing to be a mid-term referral that AAP feels confident of winning, expanding its footprint is critical for a party trying to cement its claim of being an alternative to Congress and BJP.
Success will prompt AAP to claim that its attack on demonetisation -- as an "antipoor" move meant to benefit friends of BJP -- was vindicated. The flip side will see AAP having to face a serious competitor for its base in slums and unauthorised colonies with BJP using "notebandi" to appeal to the poor vote. AAP won its four Lok Sabha seats in Punjab riding a "protest" vote against the Akali-BJP combine and dissatisfaction with Congress.Taking on BJP in Goa is more daunting. A minor show could mean that it may well evaporate after the elections.

Party sources said the Goa and Punjab results were not likely to affect Delhi's municipal polls but do not deny that a win will generate a fa vourable wind. "In the Delhi corporation elections, AAP will be fighting on the basis of its two years in the state government. If people have not been satisfied with BJP and Congress, they won't be voted back. Punjab and Goa seem too far removed from Delhi to make any difference," a senior party member said.


Source:-TOI

conspiracy to cover up drug smuggling probe

The ED had sought custodial interrogation of three accused in this case who had been arrested by the police following the interrogation of Jagdish Bhola considered to be the main accused. He recalled it was Bhola who had given out Majithia’s name.

Manpreet said the transfer could otherwise be a routine matter but not in such a case when the officer concerned was the investigating officer in a high profile case. He pointed out Majithia was brother of union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and brother-in-law of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and as such, this was not an ordinary drug smuggling case.

Stressing the need for CBI probe under the supervision of the higher court, he said doubts were already being expressed about the case likely to be hushed up as the accused were being given clean chit by the state government even before the probe had been initiated.