Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 16: Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Jammu and Kashmir, today resigned from the party and announced to revive J&K National Panthers Party, which was virtually lying defunct since the death of Prof Bhim Singh.]
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Resignation of Harsh Dev Singh from the post of Chairman as well as primary membership of AAP is the major blow to Arvind Kejriwal’s party in J&K since its entry in the Union Territory for the last more than a year.
In his resignation letter to Arvind Kejriwal- AAP National Convenor and Chief Minister of Delhi, Harsh Dev Singh has said that due to some personal reasons, he could no longer continue in the party and he was therefore quitting the same with immediate effect.
“This communiqué, as such, be treated as my resignation from J&K Chairmanship of the party as well as from primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),” read the resignation letter, dated February 16, 2023 and signed by Harsh Dev Singh.
It may be recalled that former Minister and three-time legislator Harsh Dev Singh had joined AAP on May 7, 2022 at New Delhi with much fanfare amid hopes to aggressively consolidate the party, which was expanding its base in the Union Territory on the back of its performance in neighbouring Punjab State.
Immediately after submitting his resignation, Harsh Dev Singh announced to revive J&K National Panthers Party, which was earlier headed by him as Chairman along with Prof Bhim Singh as the President.
“People approached me to revive the Panthers Party, which was known for raising voice of down trodden, poor, oppressed and commoners. After discussion with our well wishers and thinkers, I have decided to revive JKNPP and fight against corrupt regime,” he said.
In a veiled attack on AAP, Harsh Dev Singh alleged that national parties were not willing to speak against ruling BJP, which was adding miseries to people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We don’t need permission to speak for our people who are suffering because of BJP misrule,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party has accepted resignation of Harsh Dev Singh and expressed pain over his decision to quit the party. In an official statement, issued to media, AAP said that it honours the decision of Harsh Dev Singh, who has resigned from the party due to some personal reasons. “He was an important part of the AAP and we wish he remains content wherever he goes,” read the statement.
Resignation of Harsh Dev Singh as J&K AAP Chairman and his announcement to revive NPP is all set to create ripples in both the parties. Worried over the resignation, Central leadership of AAP has to look for a new Chairman of the party in J&K and convince the cadre that all is well in the organization.
In the JKNPP, some self styled veterans who are occupying a faction of the party after death of Prof Bhim Singh last year, may try to create legal hurdles for Harsh Dev Singh in controlling the Panthers.
Pertinent to mention that there was split in JKNPP with both the groups claiming to be original while the Election Commission has seized official symbol (Bicycle) of the party.
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