Stopping short of forming a parallel party, Aam Aadmi Party’s seven rebel MLAs on Thursday declared the Punjab unit “autonomous”.

They announced to launch a state-wide contact programme from 12 August in order to bring like-minded people and parties together for a Third Front.

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Despite claiming the support of 12 to 13 MLAs, the rebel group could get only seven MLAs at the volunteers convention at Bathinda which was used as show of strength by them against the party leadership in Delhi.

Besides Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, the six MLAs who were present at the convention included Kanwar Sandhu (Kharar), Nazar Singh Manshahia (Mansa), Jagdev Singh Kamalu (Maur), Jagtar Singh Hissowal (Raikot), Pirmal Singh (Bhadour), and Baldev Singh (Jaitu).

The two MLAs who backed out from the convention included Rupinder Ruby (Bathinda) and Jaikishan Rori (Garhshankar). They had earlier supported the demand for the review of the high command decision to sack Sukhpal Singh Khaira as leader of Opposition and appoint Harpal Singh Cheema to the post.

The six “unanimous resolutions” passed at the convention declared AAP Punjab unit as autonomous, dissolved all structures of the party in the state, praised Khaira for his performance as leader of Opposition.

Rejecting Khaira’s removal and Cheema’s appointment to the post, the resolutions read by Kharar MLA Sandhu said the AAP leadership should hold a meeting of all party MLAs in Chandigarh in order to appoint a new leader of Opposition.

Another resolution said beginning from 12 August in Hoshiarpur, AAP MLAs would launch a state-wide mass contact programme to reach every village and induct like-minded people and parties for a Third Front in Punjab against the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance.

Earlier addressing the gathering, Khaira appeared to be giving the agenda of a new party by citing the loot of Punjab’s river water to the industrial package given to hill states at the expense of the border state.

At the same time, Khaira urged party volunteers not to let AAP MLAs and officer bearers, who didn’t support the Bathidna convention, to enter their villages so that they will feel the pulse of the people and join the cause of the rebel group.

Urging party volunteers to trust them (rebel MLAs), Khaira said they will not only get Punjab it’s due royalty for river water from neighbouring states, take action against police officials for killing two Sikhs protesting against sacrilege incidents, prevent corruption and drug trade.

Khaira urged the volunteers to keep patience as, he said, the time was not far when a Third Front government would be formed in the state.

On the other hand, AAP’s new leader of Opposition, Cheema said that the crowd for the convention was mobilised by Lok Insaaf Party’s Bains brothers.

Earlier on Thursday, 12 AAP MLAs reached Delhi to meet AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and party’s Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia ove the latest turmoil in the state unit.