JOIN USThe infighting within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) touched a new low ahead of the Saturday’s national council meeting with warring factions going all out to defame their opponents.
In an audio sting, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been heard using abusive language against senior party leaders Anand Kumar, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav. The rebel leaders also accused Kejriwal of being dictatorial.
The showdown in the national council meet may result in murkier attacks and counter-attacks as rival factions are accusing each other of mobilising volunteers for disrupting the event. The meet may be utilised to remove dissidents from the party.
In the taped conversation with AAP leader Umesh Singh, Kejriwal has also threatened to form his own regional party with the support of 67 MLAs and dared dissenting leaders to run AAP on their own terms.
He was heard repeatedly using expletives to describe all dissenting leaders.
Just before the tape was run on news channels, Kejriwal’s supporters produced an
“apology letter” which they claimed was written by Yadav as part of a formula to restore unity within the party. But Yadav reportedly went back on signing the letter after agreeing for it.
On Friday, the dissenting leaders convened a press conference to accuse Kejriwal of being dictatorial.
“I had complained many a time during my interaction with Arvind that his dictatorial attitude is not good for democracy in the party. Arvind admitted his shortcomings but boasted that he could work only in those organisations where he decided the things,” said Bhushan.
Yadav accused Kejriwal faction of lying. He said that they had never demanded Kejriwal’s removal from the post of national convenor and that his supporters were spreading lies.
“They are spreading lies. We never demanded Arvind’s removal from the post of national
convenor, nor did we want the post of Haryana convenor,” Yadav said. Bhushan also complained that he wanted to meet Kejriwal but he did not respond.
Both said that they demanded inner-party democracy but negotiators from Kejriwal’s side were only interested in their resignation. “We would immediately resign if our demands are met,” Yadav said. Kumar narrated how Kejriwal’s supporters derailed the reconciliation talks. He also asserted that they would bring reforms in the party without leaving it.
The mistrust between the warring factions reached its high point when both of them accused each other of trying to sabotage the national council meet and conspiring against rivals. “We also want that the national council meeting should be conducted in an orderly manner and as per the party’s constitutional provisions. Voting should be through secret ballot and only members should vote, not invitees,” said Bhushan. He also demanded videotaping the proceedings.
“Someone is behind the abrupt disruption of talks. They had agreed to everything but suddenly withdrew,” said Ashish Khetan. “They were conspiring against Kejriwal,” said Ashutosh and Sanjay Singh. However, they did not agree to videotape the meeting and for voting through secret ballot.