AAP MLA slams ticket distribution for civic polls, alleges loyalists sidelined

Bathinda: Factional fault lines within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Bathinda Urban resurfaced on Friday, with MLA Jagroop Singh Gill publicly expressing displeasure over the distribution of party tickets for the May 26 municipal corporation elections.In a Facebook Live, Gill alleged that names recommended by him were largely ignored. "I had suggested candidates for all 50 wards, but only one—my nephew Sukhdeep Singh—was given a ticket. Even he has declined to contest in solidarity with those denied," he said.Gill claimed that long-serving "taksali" party workers and ward presidents had been sidelined. Without naming anyone, he suggested that decisions were influenced by "one individual," widely seen as a reference to Punjab Cricket Association president Amarjit Singh Mehta. His son, Padamjit Mehta, is the outgoing mayor of Bathinda municipal corporation and a key figure in the ticket process.Despite his reservations, Gill maintained that he would continue to work for the party.Refuting the allegations, Padamjit Mehta said the selection of candidates was not dictated by any single person. "It was a structured and consultative process carried out by the designated committee," he said after filing his nomination papers.Nomination rush on last dayMeanwhile, a large number of candidates across parties filed nominations on Saturday, the last day for the process. Polling for municipal corporations and councils will be held on May 26.In Barnala, AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer accompanied party candidates during the filing of nominations. Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhillon, former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon, BJP district president Yadvinder Shunty, and SAD leaders Kulwant Singh and Sanjeev Shorey also backed their respective candidates.Meet Hayer said AAP has fielded candidates in all 50 wards in Barnala and expressed confidence of securing a clear majority, citing public support for the party's development agenda.Pics: Padamjit Mehta files nomination in Bathinda; MP Meet Hayer with candidates in Barnala