Quit AAP movement hits Haryana: 7 of state's 10-member unit resign to join rebels

NEW DELHI: Days after 350 AAP leaders from the Maharashtra quit in protest to join the Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj Abhiyan, seven members of the party's Haryana wing resigned protesting Arvind Kejriwal-backed Delhi legislator Naresh Balyan's appointment as the state's leader.

After expelling Yadav from the party, the parliamentary affairs committee (PAC) of AAP made Balyan as in-charge of its Haryana affairs.

The party's Haryana unit has 10 members. The seven people who have quit, according to reports, have pledged their support to the rebel outfit. Balyan's appointment had received stiff opposition from the seven members. The party's PAC, in a meeting held on Sunday, had appointed Balyan as co-in-charge (independent charge) of Haryana unit, but many of the state leaders came to know about the development on Tuesday only from Times Now.

AAP state secretary Paramjeet Singh and state chief spokesperson Rajiv Godara have openly opposed Balyan's appointment, stating that he had faced allegations of storage of liquor to influence voters during the Delhi assembly polls. The Delhi police had also issued a summons to Balyan, asking him to join the probe. "There has been demand for a probe by the internal Lokpal of the party into the matter. So, it is contrary to AAP's principles to appoint him as the party's Haryana in-charge, till he gets a clean chit in the matter," said Singh and Godara, in a communication to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejrwal on Tuesday. Singh and Godara are known as close associates of Yadav.

Senior AAP leaders, however, downplayed the resignations, saying this will not affect the party in anyway.

(With Times Now inputs)