Headlines
Yadav, Bhushan worked against AAP in Delhi: Kejriwal loyalists
New Delhi, March 10
The crisis in Delhi's
ruling AAP worsened on Tuesday as four leaders known to be close to
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday accused colleagues Yogendra Yadav
and Prashant Bhushan of attempting to defeat the party in the February
election.
The allegation by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia,
minister Gopai Rai and Aam Aadmi Party leaders Pankaj Gupta and Sanjay
Singh prompted Yadav to say he hoped the charge would lead to an "open,
transparent dialogue" so that the truth prevails.
In a joint
statement, the four leaders clarified that the AAP National Executive
decided on March 4 to "release" Bhushan and Yadav from the Political
Affairs Committee (PAC) -- the party's highest decision making body --
and assign them new responsibilities.
"While all workers were
struggling to ensure the party's victory, the trio - Prashant Bhushan,
Yogendra Yadav and Shanti Bhushan - were making all-out efforts for the
party's defeat (in Delhi)," the statement said.
"The PAC did not
publicise the reasons behind the move as it could affect the senior
duo's reputation," it said, in reference to Prashant Bhushan, an AAP
founder member and a senior Supreme Court advocate, and Yadav, who is
widely seen as a leading political expert. Shanti Bhushan is Prashant
Bhushan's father and also a leading advocate.
"But the manner in
which an atmosphere has been created that the National Executive was
undemocratic and irresponsible, and the questions raised in the minds of
the AAP activists, we are compelled to give this explanation," the
statement added.
The statement comes after Maharashtra AAP leader
Mayank Gandhi, in his blog, questioned the wisdom of sacking Yadav and
Prashant Bhushan from the PAC when they were ready to leave with an
honourable exit route.
Gandhi later said he was being targeted over his remarks.
Welcoming the statement of the four AAP leaders, Yadav said he hoped that it would "end all slander".
"I
welcome the statement by four colleagues. Begins the possibility of
open, transparent dialogue. Truth shall prevail," Yadav tweeted.
"Hope
this statement ends all slander, planting of allegations. Hope no more
coercion of party functionaries and Delhi MLAs on this issue," he added.
Yadav added that he hoped that his and Prashant Bhushan's responses would also be duly publicised by the party media.
"Hope the party's web site will be opened for all volunteer responses," he said in another tweet.
The
AAP secured a sweeping win exactly a month ago, winning 67 seats in the
70-member Delhi assembly. The BJP was left with just three seats.