AAP divided over sacking of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan

A day after Arvind Kejriwal fraction in the Aam Aadmi Party removed founding members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from the party’s political affairs committee, today another high-profile leader Mayank Gandhi hit back at Kejriwal, saying it had gone against the sentiments of the party members.

In his blog, Mayank Gandhi wrote, “Arvind needs smooth working in PAC. So, I agreed that Bhushan and Yadav may take some alternate important roles. I was taken aback by the resolution of removing them publicly, especially as they themselves were willing to leave. This decision to sack them was against the overwhelming sentiments of volunteers from all over the world.”

“On 26th Feb night when members of the NE (National Executive) went to meet him, Arvind conveyed that he will not be able to work as Convenor if these two members were part of the PAC. That was the background of the (meeting) on 4th March,” Gandhi wrote.

Although the party had decided that the proceedings at that the meeting will not be revealed in the media, but later it was cleared that it was Arvind Kejriwal who was behind the Yadav and Bhushan’s disgraced exit from PAC. The duo faced challenges ahead of the crucial national executive meet on Thursday when Kejriwal, who had earlier offered to resign if these two continue to be in PAC, refused to withdraw his resignation unless the two were booted out. Finally these two seniors leaders were voted out by 11 against 8. Kejriwal was abstained from the meeting and had his final say.

AAP also announced that Yadav will no longer remain as party’s national spokesperson.

“I was taken aback by the resolution of removing them publicly, especially as they themselves were willing to leave. Also, this decision to sack them was against the overwhelming sentiments of volunteers from all over the world. So, while I agreed that they can step down from the PAC, the manner and intention behind the resolution was not acceptable,” Mayank Gandhi wrote.

After yesterday’s meeting both the senior leaders bravely faced media and termed the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and said they will continue to be in the party.

“It’s unfortunate that things have come to this. This is not about a post. NAC has taken a majority decision and it is only fair for us to abide by that,” Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav said.

Rejecting the reports that there was some negotiation in the meeting, Yogendra Yadav said, “No bargaining done in Wednesday’s meet, no one can get away in AAP by doing something wrong…It is not a big deal if Prashant Bhushan and I have been removed from the AAP’s PAC as long as the party prospers.”

However, it is not clear whether the party which earlier claimed to be ‘a different one’ would address the serious issued raised by the Yadav-Bhusan.