After Sidhu, Chhotepur puts off party plans

Chandigarh, Former AAP Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur said on Wednesday he did not have the “resources” to form a political party, hours after Navjot Singh Sidhu — with whom reports claimed he was hoping to form an alliance — said he had put off plans for a political party.

Chhotepur, who was dismissed as AAP’s Punjab convener over “bribery” charges, said on Friday that although he was disappointed with Sidhu’s decision, he talk to him on “future prospects” of Punjab once he returned from Patna Sahib, which he is scheduled to visit on Thursday.

“He (Sidhu) is a big man and it was his own idea. But my search for good people for the betterment of Punjab will continue,” Chhotepur said.

“I will pay obeisance to Patna Sahib tomorrow and after returning will take next course of action,” he said.

He also claimed he was “in touch” with suspended AAP Parliamentarian, who ha previously announced his own political front — the Punjab Lok Front — which he indicated could fight the 2017 assembly elections.

“He (Gandhi) is committed to Punjab and wants only a Punjabi should lead the people of the state, instead of outsiders,” Chhotepur said.

“My supporters and volunteers (in his recently concluded Punjab Parivartan Yatra) have told me to set up a new political “platform” comprising people with clean image and committed to save Punjab…I will meet like-minded people and bring them together, and have a political party in order to provide best alternative to people in the upcoming elections.”

“It is essential to how committed you are to the causes of people in Punjab. Only then they will start supporting you.”

Reports said that Chhotepur was to announce his political party —likely to be named Aam Lok Party (Punjab) — that was to forge a political alliance with Sidhu’s Awaaz-e-Punjab.

Sidhu however put off forming his own party saying that the party could not be expected do much in the short time before elections.

AAP replaced Chhotepur as Punjab state convener after a video allegedly showing him accepting a bribe over party tickets to fight Punjab’s assembly elections.

Punjab is scheduled to hold elections next year.