AAP not to act against ‘troublesome’ lawmakers before Punjab

polls New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) Over the past one month, the AAPhas been facing trouble from its four rebel lawmakers, but theparty has decided against sacking them ahead of the PunjabAssembly polls to avoid opening "another front". The decision not to take action against them has beentaken as it would lead to opening another front which wouldmean diverting the party’s energy from the campaign, AAPsources said. The party had removed rebels like Yogendra Yadav andPrashant Bhushan, but sacking the lawmakers would mean"freedom" from the ambit of the anti-defection law. Its MP Bhagwant Mann is in the dock for making a video ofthe Parliament complex and live-streaming it. He has also beenaccused by suspended AAP MP Harinder Singh Khalsa of coming tothe House drunk, causing embarrassment to the party. Mann hasrefuted the charge of alcoholism. Dharamvira Gandhi, another suspended MP from Patiala, hasannounced formation of an alternative political front at atime when the AAP is putting all its energy to wrest Punjabfrom the SAD-BJP coalition in the state assembly pollsscheduled early next year. The two MPs were suspended from the AAP for anti-partyactivities after they criticised its leadership for expellingYadav and Bhushan. "Why should I resign from the party. Let them throw meout. As an MP, I have obligations towards the voters of myconstituency," Gandhi had said at the launch of the front lastweek. In Delhi, the party is facing a peculiar situation. Aformer minister Asim Ahmed Khan, sacked over alleged graftcharges, claimed that he and his family are facing "deaththreats" from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and some otherpartymen. In another instance, its Timarpur MLA Pankaj Pushkar, whois known to be close to Yadav, has moved breach of privilegenotice against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for"misleading" the Delhi Legislative Assembly. "The party does not want to make another Binny and createtrouble for itself. We have learnt lessons from it," said anAAP leader.MORE PTI PR SKRCJ