NEW DELHI—Bholath legislator Sukhpal Khaira has been appointed as the leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly by the Aam Aadmi Party. Consent to his name was given by all the other 19 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, including former leader of opposition HS Phoolka. Notably, the cabinet rank post in Punjab assembly had gone vacant after Bar Council had cancelled HS Phoolka’s license to pursue legal advocacy of 1984 Sikh genocide victims.
Aam Aadmi Party’s National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal underwent meeting with all the 19 legislators to gather their consent for Sukhpal Khaira. Three MLAs expressed strong reservation against Khaira’s name by arguing that he would nurture his personal agenda more than toeing the party’s line and ideals. But trio of them also gave their consent to Khaira’s name after Kejriwal and MP Bhagwant Mann announced that majority of the MLAs were in favour of Khaira.
Sikh24 has learnt that Mansa’s legislator Nazar Singh Mansahia and Talwandi Sabo’s legislator Prof. Baljinder Kaur were also contenders for this cabinet rank post in Punjab assembly but they withdrew their names in favour of Sukhpal Khaira.
Speaking to Sikh24, Sukhpal Khaira termed his election as a moral victory of hard work and truth against money power. “I will do everything possible for the betterment of the Punjabi people and the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said. “This is a true honour for me and I am thankful to the party for their overwhelming support.”
Khaira paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib in Delhi as he was appointed the leader of opposition.
This type of unity was what was actually required to display before before the Punjab elections.