Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday suspended its Punjab MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana from the party after he publicly accused the state government and party leadership of failing to address a shortage of teachers in government schools in his constituency.
Maiserkhana, who represents the Maur Assembly constituency in Bathinda district, had earlier gone live on social media and expressed frustration over the alleged lack of action despite repeatedly raising the issue with the party leadership.
The legislator also claimed that the shortage affected a government School of Eminence where his son studies. He said he believed he was the only ruling party MLA whose children studied in a government school.
Maiserkhana alleged that despite raising the matter with the party leadership, his concerns remained unresolved. He also claimed that he was told that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had called him, but that he did not get an opportunity to meet the chief minister.
The MLA said he was aware that he might not receive a party ticket in the upcoming elections but maintained that he would continue to raise issues concerning people in his constituency.
He also expressed apprehension that an FIR could be registered against him following his public criticism.
Following his remarks, Punjab AAP general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat announced Maiserkhana’s suspension with immediate effect, citing alleged “anti-party activities and indiscipline”.
The BJP’s Punjab unit said the MLA’s allegations had exposed gaps in the AAP government’s claims regarding an “education revolution” in the state.
Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also targeted the state government, asking how ordinary people could expect to be heard if a sitting ruling party MLA could not get an appointment with the chief minister.
Maiserkhana, meanwhile, maintained that his fight was centred on improving government schools and filling vacant teacher posts.
