Gurpreet Singh Waraich, popularly known as Gurpreet Ghuggi, resigned from the primary membership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday saying that the party had deviated from its principles and ditched its ideals. Ghuggi, who is the former Punjab convener of the AAP, said that he would stay in politics but not be associated with the AAP.
Ghuggi's resignation, which was announced at a press conference in Chandigarh, comes after AAP MLA from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann was appointed as the party's Punjab convener. The AAP's chief whip Sukhpal Singh Khaira had also resigned from the party on Monday following the removal of Ghuggi as the party's state convener.
"Gurpreet said he was humiliated and that he could have been informed of the decision on phone and would have tendered his resignation. He said he had been defending the various indiscretions of Mann in public," a party source had told the Indian Express.
Ghuggi was appointed as the convener of the party's Punjab unit ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. However, the party suffered a defeat in the polls and, therefore, was unable to form government. The Congress party had won the Assembly elections in Punjab.
Ghuggi's resignation comes at a time when the AAP is struggling with the shocking allegations made by suspended minister Kapil Mishra against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendra Jain. Mishra has accused both Kejriwal and Jain of being involved in corruption and bribery within the party.
