“This storm will end, but what about the storm that has hit our party,” asked a dejected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker at the nearly-desolate party office on Rouse Avenue here on Wednesday.
This, even as a handful of workers peered outside the grilled window to check whether the sun was still behind the dark clouds and if the strong winds had abated.
A day later on Thursday, several volunteers and local leaders expressed concern over the way things have turned out following the rift between AAP founder member Kumar Vishwas and Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan. The rift between the two leaders has also affected their respective supporters.
Anger in party
In fact, many have been coming out on the streets in support for their respective camps over the last few days. Mr. Khan’s allegations have prompted anger among party members, some of whom wrote to national convenor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urging him to expel the Okhla MLA.
While the meeting of the party’s political affairs committee (PAC) on Wednesday spelled some relief for Mr. Vishwas and his supporters, Mr. Khan’s suspension from the AAP has sparked anger among his supporters, especially those in his constituency. Many led a march from Tikona Park to Jamia Millia Islamia in Okhla on Thursday against the AAP’s decision to suspend Mr. Khan. “The party should have at least given him [Mr. Khan] a chance to present his case. He was forced to resign from the PAC and then, in his absence, they decided to suspend him. If some allegations have been levied against a leader, the party should have investigated them. Instead, they rewarded him with a higher position,” said Mohammad Rasool.
Mr. Khan has maintained that he won’t comment on the PAC’s decision.
Sujeet Kumar, block president at west Delhi’s Sagarpur, said the local team in his area is perturbed due to the recent developments.
‘Need to stick together’
“We are people who are ready to take a bullet for the party if required, but this whole fight has affected the morale of the workers. The opponents are already trying to weaken us. We should at least function as a unit,” he said, adding that the volunteers were just recovering from the huge loss in the recent civic polls.
“When we go to people’s houses to get work done or urge them to take up the party’s membership, all they want to know is whether the AAP will survive the infighting or not,” he said.
Some volunteers in Seemapuri have been sitting on hunger strike and have made offerings to various deities.
“I promise undertake a pilgrimage to Shirdi if the AAP emerges stronger after these difficult times. This is the only party that can fight against the BJP. We have given a lot to this movement. Personal fights shouldn’t ruin that,” said Mahendra Singh, a party worker from the area.
