AAP crucial party meet today
NEW DELHI: The spat between the Yogendra Yadav-Prashant Bhushan duo, on the one side, and Arvind Kejriwal and his loyalists, on the other, got uglier on the day before Wednesday’s national executive meeting of AAP where the fate of the two dissident leaders is likely to be decided.
Breaking his silence, Kejriwal tweeted on Tuesday, “I am deeply hurt and pained by what is going on in the party. This is betrayal of trust that Delhi has reposed in us. I refuse to be drawn in this ugly battle. Will concentrate only on Delhi’s governance.”
Kejriwal distanced himself from the spat and prepared to leave for Bangalore on Thursday for treatment at a naturopathy farm. He is learned to be unlikely to attend the meeting, which would help him position himself to be above the fray. However, his loyalists accused Yadav and Bhushan of trying to unseat Kejriwal and accused Bhushan of seeking to have a “vice-like grip” over the party.
Chances of any reconciliation between the two groups seemed to be dimming and a public ouster of Bhushan and Yadav from the PAC (political affairs committee) appeared imminent, said sources. Bhushan in his letter had indicated that the party was “faltering” from its founding principles of accountability, transparency and inner party democracy.
Responding to allegations that his family was seeking to control the party, Prashant said, “These are ridiculous statements… these are being made just to divert attention from the real issues.” His father Shanti Bhushan, who was the strongest critic of Kejriwal, and with whom even Prashant differed, on Tuesday changed his tune when he wrote to the National Executive: “Differences within the party are not good. Prashant and Yogendra(Yadav) should support Arvind (Kejriwal).”
However, Kejriwal loyalists Ashish Khetan and Ashutosh ratcheted up the attack. Khetan said, “Those who are floating the ridiculous one-man party theory wanted to make AAP one family party. Father, son & daughter trio of Shanti, Prashant and Shalini wanted to have a vice-like grip on all party wings, from PAC to policy committee to National Executive.”
Ashutosh demanded that Shanti Bhushan should explain why he wanted Kejriwal replaced. “Shantiji should explain why he said that Arvind should be replaced with Yogendra during elections and after NE meet. That is indiscipline. Shantiji should explain what was the conspiracy to replace Arvind. Did it not tarnish the image of the party?”
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Source:Timesofindia
