AAP sacks rebels after Kejri threat
‘Lokayukta’ kept out of meet; rebels allege they were beaten; Medha Patkar quits AAP
The power struggle within the Aam Aadmi Party culminated on Saturday with the outfit expelling dissident leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from its key decision-making body, the national executive. The decision was taken at the national council meet held on Saturday at Calista Resort at Kapashera.
The meet also authorised the political affairs committee to take disciplinary action against “any member who, without authorisation, issues media statements against the party line and takes decisions in a bid to tarnish the party’s image.”
Following this, the sacking of the duo from the party seems to be certain. As the factional war within the AAP intensified, one of its prominent faces, social activist Medha Patkar, quit the party, condemning the “treatment” of Mr Bhushan and Mr Yadav.
“Condemn what happened in the AAP meeting in Delhi. Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were treated unfairly,” she said in Mumbai.
If the party decides, I will relinquish all posts. Now it is upto to you (National Council) to decide whether you want me or them.
Senior AAP leader quoting Arvind Kejriwal It was a murder of democracy. Everything played out as per a script and resolution passed. It was a farce. — Yogendra Yadav Whatever Kejriwal said in a sting on Friday was played out in its entirety in the meeting. There was no distinction between members and others. There was no discussion, no secret vote, no showing of votes.
—
Prashant Bhushan,
ex-AAP leader
Besides Mr Yogendra Yadav and Mr Prashant Bhushan, the party also expelled two other founder leaders, Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha.
The fate of the rebels was sealed when AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in his opening speech, asked the 311-odd members of the executive to either choose him or the duo and threatened to quit. He also alleged that Mr Yadav and Mr Bhushan, the founder members, were trying to “weaken the party and indulge in backstabbing.”
Sources said he accused the rebels of “working for the defeat of the AAP in the Delhi elections mainly to get rid of me.”
Mr Bhushan later alleged that violence against the dissident leaders began after Mr Kejriwal’s speech.
Mr Kejriwal left promptly after making the emotional speech without voting, only to return later when the national council authorised the PAC to initiate action against any member who had the tarnished party’s image. After his departure, deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia moved the resolution for the expulsion of the four dissident leaders. The party claimed that 247 members voted in favour while 10 voted against. 54 members abstained.
The resolution which was moved by Mr Sisodia was already signed by 167 members. The party claimed all those who abstained included Mr Bhushan, Mr Yadav and their supporters, who had walked out of the meeting without voting.
Describing the voting as a “total conspiracy”, Mr Bhushan said he was looking at legal options to challenge their expulsion. “[It was] carried out in an unconstitutional manner. They had come prepared to kick us out. There was no discussion on the resolution, no secret voting and no distinction was made between those who are eligible to vote and those who don’t,” he alleged.
The national council meeting ended virtually in blows and chaos. Mr Bhushan also charged that some of their sup- porters were “beaten up by goons brought by the party.”
High drama played out at the beginning of the meeting. Before the meeting commenced, Mr Yadav sat on a dharna outside the venue for nearly an hour, alleging that some NC members opposed to the Kejriwal camp were not being allowed inside.
Outside the venue, after they walked out of the meeting, the rebels began their attacks on Mr Kejriwal and his team.
At a press conference later, Mr Yadav and Mr Bhushan revealed that the AAP’s Lokpal, Admiral Ramdas (Retd), who has been attending the party’s NC meets, was asked by the AAP leadership on Friday evening not to stay away as his presence could result in a “confrontation” and that his term has expired, which can only be renewed in the next national executive meet.
Before the meeting, Mr Yadav made public a letter, written by Adm. Ramdas to the party leadership, in which the former Navy Chief expressed surprise over the party asking him not to attend the meet.