In a jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party, its national executive member Ashok Agarwal on Tuesday quit the party saying it had become “directionless” and functions like a private limited company.
A lawyer and education activist, Mr. Agarwal had sought ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Chandni Chowk but the party fielded former journalist Ashutosh from the seat, currently held by Kapil Sibal of the Congress.
In a letter to party’ convener Arvind Kejriwal, Mr. Agarwal, a founding member of the party, said he thought the AAP stood for strong principles to benefit “the last man” but “lately things seem to have changed and the objectives and goals for which it was created are getting lost.”
“The movement seems to have become directionless causing doubts in the minds of people and even in people like me who are today feeling the party is functioning like a private company.”
“The connect with the aam aadmi is on the wane and a group of elite individuals is [being] promoted to take over the party. Aam aadmi vision has taken a back seat and what’s on the mind of such individuals is personal projection at the cost of the aam aadmi,” Mr. Agarwal said in the letter.
He was not available for comment.
The national executive committee is the second most important panel in the party after the political affairs committee.
Unfortunate: AAP
Denying the charges, a party spokesman said, “Mr. Agarwal is a senior person. We have a great deal of respect for his work in the education sector. It is unfortunate that he decided to quit and go public without raising the issue in any party forum.”
“His allegation is wrong. We are a new party. We may take time to set up the processes but our intent is right,” said Dilip Pandey.
Another national council member Ashwini Upadhaya had earlier accused the party of giving preference to new persons for contesting election rather than workers who had been in the party since its inception.
