AAP Suspends Maur MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana Over Public Criticism of Education Reforms

In a dramatic escalation of internal strife within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, the state leadership suspended Maur legislator Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana from primary membership on Saturday. The disciplinary action, announced just hours after the MLA went public with his grievances, marks a significant fissure in the ruling party as it heads toward the next assembly elections.

Public Outburst Sparks Disciplinary Action

The controversy erupted following a 14-minute live stream on Facebook, in which Maiserkhana launched a stinging critique of the Bhagwant Mann-led administration’s flagship “education kranti” (education revolution). As the only legislator in the 117-member Punjab Assembly to enroll his children in a government school, Maiserkhana asserted that he possessed firsthand knowledge of the systemic failures plaguing the state’s educational infrastructure.

The MLA specifically targeted the state’s “School of Eminence” initiative, focusing on the facility in Ram Nagar, located within his Bathinda constituency. He claimed that the school was grappling with acute faculty shortages, asserting that despite his repeated attempts to escalate the issue to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and senior party leader Manish Sisodia, his concerns were met with indifference. Emphasizing his disillusionment, the MLA declared that he would refuse to “beg” for a ticket for the upcoming polls, alleging that he had been facing persistent harassment from party leadership.

The timing of his outburst is widely viewed through the lens of internal power struggles. The opening of a new political office in Maur by Navdeep Singh Jeeda, the AAP in-charge for the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, has been interpreted by observers as a move to undermine Maiserkhana’s standing and claim his electoral territory.

AAP Hits Back with Data

The party’s response was immediate and categorical. AAP state general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat released a formal notification confirming the suspension, citing “indiscipline” and “anti-party activities.” The party leadership vehemently denied the MLA’s allegations, labeling them a deliberate attempt to defame the government’s public image through falsehoods.

To counter the claims of staff shortages, the AAP released official school records dated September 29. According to this data, the Ram Nagar institution is adequately staffed, with 25 of its 30 sanctioned teaching posts currently occupied. The party maintains that the school, which serves 580 students across 19 sections, is well-equipped with a dedicated principal and a comprehensive team of 24 teaching staff, including lecturers and master cadre educators.

Opposition Gains Ammunition

The suspension of a sitting MLA has provided the opposition Congress with fresh fodder to attack the ruling dispensation. Pargat Singh, the newly appointed Punjab Congress chief, was quick to capitalize on the internal rift.

“The AAP MLA himself has exposed the party’s authoritarianism and the hollow nature of its much-touted education revolution,” Pargat Singh remarked. He added that the issues raised by Maiserkhana regarding the superficiality of government claims are consistent with criticisms the Congress has been voicing for over four years.

As the ruling party battles a multi-front crisis with only five months remaining until the state polls, the public fallout with one of its own legislators adds a layer of instability to the AAP’s efforts to defend its track record in Punjab.

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