Four reasons why I want Gul Panag as AAP's national convener

In a dramatic turn of events, amid a rift within the Aam Aadmi Party, its national convener Arvind Kejriwal offered to resign hours before the crucial national executive meeting, where the fate of rebels Prashant Bhushan and Yogender Yadav is going to be decided. If the policy of one-person-one-post is to be followed, which is in line with the AAP's agenda, the party needs to elect a new convener since Kejriwal is already a chief minister. 

The big question now is who could be the right person to head the party at this crucial juncture? Bhushan and Yadav have already proved to be controversial; Kumar Vishwas is too inexperienced, while others like Ashutosh or Ashish Khetan are too straightjacketed.

The national convener of a party like AAP must be acceptable to all as well as popular. The one name that fits the bill, in my opinion, is actor-turned-politician Gul Panag. 

She's young: At 36, she represents politics at the youth level. AAP is a young, two-year-old party and needs a young convener.

Popularity counts: Panag to her credit is a Bollywood actor who has acted in some critically acclaimed movies. Being from Bollywood always counts in politics. She could be the star attraction among the youth as she is articulate, dedicated to the party and has electoral expertise too, apart from a huge fan base.

Gender gap: The AAP has faced flak for not having a woman minister in its Delhi Cabinet. Even its internal lokpal admiral Ramadoss called it an "all boys club" after Rakhi Bidlan was not made a minister again. Panag as the party's national convener will silence all such detractors.

Punjab matters: Punjab elections is going to be the next big big thing for the AAP in early 2017. She has already contested and lost the Lok Sabha elections from the city of her birth, Chandigarh, last year against BJP's Kirron Kher. The party has all its four MPs in Lok Sabha from Punjab. With a Punjabi as its convener, the party has a real chance to capture the state.