Arvind Kejriwal apology fallout intensifies as Bhagwant Mann quits as AAP Punjab chief

Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Bhagwant Mann resigned on Friday saying his "fight against drug mafia and corruption will continue".

"I'm resigning as a president of AAP Punjab... But my fight against drug mafia and all kind of corruption in Punjab will continue as an 'Aam Aadmi' (common man) of Punjab," Mann tweeted.

His resignation comes a day after AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal apologised to former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia for alleging that he was involved in the "drug trade". Majithia had filed a defamation case against Kejriwal and others following the allegation made during campaigning in the Punjab Assembly elections .

Mann represents the Sangrur parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha. He was appointed the state party chief in May 2017.

AAP MLAs meeting underway in Punjab

After Bhagwant Mann’s resignation, AAP MLAs have gathered to take stock of the situation, said AAP Punjab legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira. “All of us in Punjab are saddened to learn how Kejriwal ji has went to apologise to Majithia when state govt's STF has submitted in High Court that there is strong clinching evidence against him,” Khaira told media.

Meanwhile AAP ally Lok Insaf Party has called Kejriwal’s apology to Majithia a “betrayal to people of Punjab.” LIF leader Simarjit Singh Bains said “People will not bear with it. This is a non-issue, probably there is a back-door dealing behind it. Our MLAs will sit together & take a collective decision.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

With IANS inputs.