“Bhaisahab, na toh tum Punjab mein rehte ho, na Arvind rehtein hain (neither you live in Punjab nor does Arvind),” Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann said on Saturday, responding to a question on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s apology to former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

“Even a child in Punjab knows what the reality is,” Mann told Newslaundry. “We will continue our campaign and fight against the man [Majithia] who has ruined Punjab’s youth.”

The Sangrur MP has backed Kejriwal, the Delhi CM and party chief, through thick and thin. But his resignation as the Punjab president on Friday and the tone of his latest remark speak volumes about what’s going on inside the AAP’s Punjab unit.

Meanwhile, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly, said he would not attend the party’s emergency meeting at Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s residence in the national capital on Sunday.

The meeting is an attempt to stem a probable split in the ranks as some MLAs, led by Khaira, are reportedly considering the idea of breaking away from the party unit. Kejriwal apologising to Majithia two days ago is said to have shaken the very foundation of their “battle against Punjab’s drug menace” – an issue they had based their political campaign and careers on.

During the Assembly polls campaign in early 2016, Kejriwal had accused Majithia of being a drug lord. In January 2017, he went on to say that the Shiromani Akali Dal leader would be sent to jail within a month if the party won the elections.

To get rid off the defamation lawsuit filed by Majithia subsequently, Kejriwal and his party colleague Ashish Khetan submitted their apology in court on Thursday. Notably, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh is yet to apologise. The next date of hearing is slated for April 2.

Meanwhile, Khaira is said to be leading the faction bent on splitting the party in Punjab. Asked if he would attend Sunday’s meeting, Khaira texted: “No, I am not attending.” Responding to a question on the likelihood of a split and the number of MLAs backing him, Khaira said the issue would be discussed the following day.

The AAP’s regional leaders are not willing to buy the party’s “strategic move” logic for tendering an apology to Majithia. Party spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj has said the apology was part of a “strategy” devised by the AAP’s legal team, which felt that the Delhi CM, facing around 20 legal cases, would struggle to discharge his duties if he must constantly appear in court.

“The local leadership wasn’t kept in the loop (about the apology and its need),” Mann told this correspondent. “My resignation is a statement against his (Kejriwal’s) apology. Irrespective of the statement of Arvind’s advocates, the war in Punjab against Majithia will continue. It doesn’t mean that Majithia has got a clean chit.”

Regretting the lack of communication and Kejriwal’s apology, Mann had resigned as the party’s Punjab chief on Friday followed by his deputy Aman Arora, who also tendered his resignation. But Mann also said the resignations and the open criticism of the decision taken by the party’s most senior neta was “proof of inner-party democracy in AAP” and that Kejriwal was “still his leader”.

Meanwhile, the party’s chief spokesperson in Punjab, Harjot Bains, refused to put a number on dissident MLAs. “Nothing can be said right now,” he said. “We are against the apology but we are also against the faction (Khaira and Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu) that wants to split the party.” Bains was clear about one thing. “We all want an answer from Arvindji on why he apologised,” he said.

Sandhu has categorically stated that the meeting to resolve the current crisis must be held in Punjab and not Delhi. He claimed that 20 MLAs – including two from the Lok Insaf Party – had attended a meeting held to express “shock” after Kejriwal’s apology.

“On Friday, 13-14 MLAs said they would not attend the meeting [at Sisodia’s residence]. The leadership which took this decision [apology to Majithia] should come down to Chandigarh,” he said on Saturday. Sandhu added that Arora and senior leader HS Phoolka had also agreed to not attend the meeting. Demanding “complete autonomy”, Sandhu said the AAP’s Punjab party unit should adopt a constitution of its own.

Adding insult to injury for the AAP’s national leadership was Kejriwal’s trusted aide Phoolka’s latest tweet. “AAP Punjab should function as a regional party with an alliance with the national AAP. In Punjab matters, total independence & on national issues, go by national leadership,” the 62-year-old former leader of the opposition posted on Twitter.

The lack of communication between AAP’s central leadership and the party’s Punjab unit is nothing new. In the past, AAP Punjab’s suspended MPs Harinder Singh Khalsa and Dharamvir Gandhi have openly spoken about the “Delhi Darbar” culture – pointing to the central leadership’s tendency to take calls on local issues without arriving at a consensus.

AAP’s former Punjab chief Sucha Singh Chottepur had also raised these issues after he was removed from the post over allegations of corruption. But unlike in the past, the central leadership faces a greater challenge this time with almost all leaders united against Kejriwal’s decision to apologise.

The unity comes from the fact that AAP’s larger political plank in Punjab was based on its war against the alleged drug racket in the state and its aggressive stance against the then governing Akali Dal.

AAP had gained popularity in the state by targeting Akali leaders – especially Majithia – promising to end the alleged politician-drug mafia nexus.

How many AAP legislators turn up at Sisodia’s house will be an indication of AAP Punjab’s future. A source in touch with both the local and the central leaderships said: “Anything can happen”.

“They [Khaira faction] are also exploring their options,” the source said. “Either a majority of the MLAs will side with Arvind Kejriwal or the party will head for a split.”