The widening rift between leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the national-level has triggered unrest in the State unit of the party.
The ‘unceremonious’ ouster of AAP founder leader Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) has not gone down well with the party leaders at the local level who are keeping their fingers crossed with a hope that the party’s Executive Committee meeting, slated for March-end, will sort out the ongoing tussle between the leaders.
“Core values are strength of the AAP. If these values are compromised, it will take no time for people to shun the party. People have a lot of hopes from the party. But the ‘unceremonious’ removal of Mr. Bhushan and Mr. Yadav is sending out wrong signals. We only hope that goings-on in the party are only the churning process and all differences will be thrashed out in the forthcoming National Executive meeting,” said a senior AAP leader from Andhra Pradesh.
A few local leaders are of the view that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has allowed himself to be surrounded by a set of immature leaders who are influencing his decisions.
“How can one run a national party with such cronies around? Moreover, just look at the timing; all this is happening immediately after the party’s landslide victory in Delhi elections. People have given us a rare glory. Even a slight aberration could result in a disaster at this crucial juncture,” says a leader.
“I just spoke to Mr. Bhushan. Both he and Mr. Yadav do not want the party split at any cost. They don’t want any damage to the party’s image,” said another senior leader of the party. Pointing to AAP’s espoused principles of nation first, party next and individuals last, an increasing number of party volunteers are expressing displeasure over the turn of events.
The removal of Mr. Bhushan and Mr. Yadav is sending out wrong signals. We only hope that all differences will be thrashed out in the National Executive meeting
- An AAP leader from AP
