Rift erupts as two councillors reject appointments, three leaders resign

The development comes at a time when the party is to fight mayoral polls in MC against BJP amid tensions with its ally Congress in Delhi

- Mandeep Kaur Narula

[e-mail] CHANDIGARH: A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced a list of 76 office-bearers to strengthen the organisational structure in Chandigarh, two city councillors rejected the appointments and at least three leaders resigned from the party on Sunday. The city got a regular president after almost 2 years.

The development comes at a time when the party is to fight mayoral polls in MC against BJP amid tensions with its ally Congress party in Delhi. With AAP having 13 out of total 35 councillors of the MC House, they need support of 7 Congress councillors to win the mayoral polls. The BJP has 15 councillors. In fact, names of incumbent mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor, former AAP convener Prem Garg, party founder in city Vikram Singh Pundir, also, do not figure in the list.

As per leaders, the resignations came from dissatisfaction over the selection process, with some leaders alleging favouritism and lack of consultation.