Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday finally decided to throw out Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from all party posts. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee at his residence.
Earlier in the day, hectic parleys for reconciliation did not succeed after the AAP convenor took a hard stand against the dissenting leaders. Announcing their removal, the Kejirwal faction alleged that Yadav and Bhushan were insisting on the removal of the Delhi Chief Minister from the post of National Convenor. “In public they say AK is the leader, in private they insist on his removal,” Deputy Chief Minister and senior party leader Mansih Sisodia tweeted soon after the meeting.
The PAC considered a letter of Bhuashan and Yadav as their resignation. The letter which was written on March 17 to raise issues of inner party democracy and had asked the leadership to take a call on such issues. However, Yadav denied that they (he and Bhushan) ever demanded removal of Kejriwal from the post of National Convenor. He termed it as a “ridiculous claim”.
“(It is a) ridiculous claim that we insisted on AK's removal. This was not mentioned in our note, never came up for discussion. Can they give any proof?” he said. He also claimed that the letter was only a note and it did not speak of resignation.
After the PAC meeting, senior party leader Kumar Vishwas told reporters that no further talks would go on. “They wanted removal of Arvind from the post of convenor. This can only be decided by the National Council which is to meet on March 28”, he said.
The talks that went on for last 10 days were done under the pressure of volunteers. The Delhi chief minister wanted the duo to resign from the National Executive and other party posts. But the dissenting leaders did not accept the suggestion and insisted to work for the party. Party Lokpal Admiral (Rtd) Ramdas made the last minute effort on Thursday but failed to reconcile Kejriwal.
Party sources say that a fierce battle is imminent at the National Council meeting. Kejriwal supporters are going to move a resolution for the removal of the dissenting leaders. Party sources are claiming that the leadership has sent invitations even to those who were not members of the council.
