Chandigarh, Mar 16: The Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Party came out in revolt against party chief Arvind Kejriwal for his "letter of apology" to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. AAP's key ally in Punjab, the Lok Insaf Party (LIP) announced its decision to break the alliance citing "Kejriwal's meek surrender".

LIP leader Simarjit Bains claimed at least 15 of the 20 AAP MLAs in Punjab could break away and "form a new party".

Earlier in the day, AAP's Punjab unit chief Bhagwant Mann tendered his resignation from the post of party president. He was shortly followed by the state unit's vice president Aman Arora.

Mann, confirming his resignation, said, "I will continue my fight against the drug mafia and all kinds of corruption as an 'aam aadmi' of Punjab."

AAP's chief whip in the Punjab assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, said Kejriwal's apology to Majithia could be the "end of AAP in Punjab".

Khaira said the apology was not necessitated as there is "sufficient evidence" to prove Majithia's role in the state's drug trade.

"All of us in Punjab are saddened to learn how Kejriwal ji has went to apologise to Majithia when state government's STF has submitted in High Court that there is strong clinching evidence against him. AAP MLAs with gather and take stock of the situation," he added.

In the letter written to Majithia on Thursday, Kejriwal expressed regret for levelling "unfounded allegations" against him in various party rallies, public meetings and statements released to the press.

Ahead of the assembly elections last year, Kejriwal had promised to lodge Majithia behind the bars if the AAP emerges victorious.

Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu accused Kejriwal of "letting down" the people of Punjab. "People of Punjab had pinned their hopes in this party. Today, Kejriwal ji has murdered AAP by apologising to Majithia. The entire party will be wiped out from the state," he said.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, marking his contradiction to Kejriwal's letter of apology, said "a person like Majithia should be in jail". "The party will definitely speak to our dissident leaders," he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 16, 2018 07:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).