Shimla, July 16
Disillusioned with Delhi's interference in AAP affairs of Himachal, Nikka Singh Patyal, former AAP state president from 2017 to 2021, and Shesh Pal Saklani, state organising secretary, today joined the Congress.
"Despite working relentlessly for establishing AAP in Himachal for four years, I realised that Kejriwal wants to control the Himachal affairs from Delhi," Patyal claimed. "I felt stifled and decided to join the Congress as there is a lot of difference in what Kejriwal says and does, he said.
They joined the party in the presence of MLA and Congress Campaign Committee chairman Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who said there would be a virtual split in the BJP before the Assembly polls as several leaders were in touch with the Congress.
Patyal said he was joining the Congress as he was totally disillusioned with the AAP. "Kejriwal wants to run the organisation in his own way and wants Delhi to rule over Himachal. Why should people from Delhi dictate terms and call the shots in Himachal? This was not acceptable to us," he said. He said in Punjab also, the situation is the same as there is interference from Delhi.
Nikka countered Kejriwal's criticism of the quality of education in Himachal. "He should have known that the literacy rate in HP is second only to Kerala and the quality of education is also good," he said.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service