Punjab politics: Bathinda Rural MLA Ruby quits AAP, set to join Congress

Rupinder Kaur Ruby, who tweeted resignation to Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab AAP head Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday night, had met Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and AICC state affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary earlier in the day

In a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, its legislator from Bathinda Rural (reserved) constituency Rupinder Kaur Ruby quit the party on Tuesday night and is set to join the Congress.

Bathinda Rural MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby, who quit the Aam Aadmi Party, on Tuesday night. The 33-year-old first-time MLA addressed her resignation to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab unit head Bhagwant Mann over Twitter. (HT file photo)

In a tweet on Tuesday night, the 33-year-old first-time MLA addressed her resignation to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab unit head Bhagwant Mann. “This is to inform u that I am resigning with immediate effect from the membership of Aam Aadmi Party. Please accept my resignation. Thx Rupinder Kaur Ruby. (MLA Bti.rural),” her tweet read.

Last month, Ruby had backed Mann for the party’s chief minister face and was said to be cut up with the leadership over the delay in making the announcement.

Will talk to Ruby and AAP high command: Mann

When contacted Mann, who is the Sangrur MP, said: “I will talk to our MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby and the AAP high command. We will discuss her grievances. Our party has no faction in the organisation. We are all party volunteers and working unitedly.”

Though Ruby did not cite any reason for her decision to quit the party ahead of the assembly elections early next year, AAP legislature party leader Harpal Singh Cheema said that Ruby was not going to get the AAP ticket and, therefore, joining the Congress. “Rupinder Ruby is our younger sister, be happy wherever you go. This time, she had no chance of getting a ticket from the AAP so she is joining the Congress. The Congress is requested not to cheat Ruby and should give her the ticket from Bathinda Rural,” Cheema tweeted.

Ruby hits back at Harpal Cheema for not backing Mann

Hitting back at Cheema, Ruby accused him of not raising his voice for the party leaders or the people of Punjab. “When it was time for you to speak, you did not say anything. You neither raised your voice for the people of Punjab nor for Bhagwant Mann. As for the ticket, you can contest against me,” she tweeted, throwing a challenge to the legislature party chief.

Ruby met chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Chaudhary earlier on Tuesday.

Her ties with the AAP were strained over the past few weeks when she started social activities in the adjoining assembly segment of Bhucho Mandi. Ruby had to face embarrassment recently when a group of party volunteers from Bathinda Rural publicly complained to Cheema about her performance.

Four of 20 AAP MLAs in Congress

Of the 20 AAP MLAs, four – Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Pirmal Singh Khalsa and Nazar Singh Manshahia, are in the Congress now.

While Khaira, Kamalu and Khalsa, joined the Congress in June this year, Manshahia jumped ship to the ruling party in April 2019, just days before the parliamentary elections.

With inputs by Avtar Singh in Sangrur