JOIN USKumar Vishwas cries foul, adds to AAP rift
The crisis in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following the Delhi civic polls debacle took a new turn on Tuesday with senior leader Kumar Vishwas saying he will take a decision soon, a remark that has set tongues wagging about his future course of action.
Vishwas defied Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s diktat to senior leaders not to air their views and grievances before cameras.
Vishwas spoke to the media in the evening and said that all is not well in the party yet. In a veiled criticism, he targeted Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, saying they can continue to be the chief minister and the deputy chief minister, respectively, but one should not ignore those party workers who have suffered for building the party.
“I have already said that I do not want to become the chief minister or the deputy chief minister or the party chief. I am not going to join any party or any Swaraj andolan. I have not come for that. I will take a decision tonight and I will not seek an apology for his statements,” an emotional Vishwas told reporters.
Sisodia had on Monday said that there was criticism about the video of Vishwas in the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting.
Sisodia hit back at Vishwas later, saying he is making statements on TV which is demoralising AAP volunteers. “Why doesn’t he come to the PAC?” Sisodia asked.
His response came amid reports that some MLAs had approached Kejriwal with allegations that Vishwas told some of them that Delhi would soon have a new chief minister.
The poet-turned-politician’s comments came a day after one of his bete noires Amanatullah Khan quit the PAC, the highest decision-making body in the party, following criticism against him.
Khan continued his attack on Vishwas, who gave interviews against the party leadership after poll drubbing, even after his resignation.
Vishwas, who refused to attend Monday night’s PAC meeting, said he knows the people behind Khan who are trying to conspire against him.
The latest outburst by Vishwas came even as Kejriwal has scheduled meetings with party MLAs to gather feedback and views on the functioning of the party and the government.