AAP rift: Kejri may skip key meet

New Delhi, March 3

The rift within the Aam Aadmi Party escalated today with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal terming it an "ugly battle" and his camp launching an all-out war accusing senior leaders Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan of wanting to have a "vice-like grip" on the party.

Kejriwal is likely to skip a crucial national executive meeting tomorrow to decide Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan’s fate.

Breaking his silence, Kejriwal said he was "hurt and pained" by what was going on within the outfit as it had "betrayed" people’s trust.

Kejriwal, who is the party's national convener, said he refused to be drawn into the "ugly battle" and would concentrate on Delhi's governance. However, his camp launched an attack on the Bhushans.

Ashish Khetan, a key member of the AAP's Delhi unit, accused the Bhushans of wanting to control all wings of the party.

"Those who are floating the ridiculous one-man party theory wanted to make AAP one-family party," Khetan tweeted.

"Father-son-daughter trio of Shanti, Prashant & Shalini (sic) wanted to have a vice-like grip on all party wings, from PAC to policy committee to National Executive," he said. Ashutosh, another party leader close to Kejriwal, said Bhushan should have raised his issues at the NE meeting and not before the media.

Shanti Bhushan, a founder member, sought to play down the rift, asking both Prashant and Yadav to support Kejriwal. "Differences within the party are not good. Prashant and Yogendra (Yadav) should support Arvind (Kejriwal)," he said in a letter to the party's National Executive. Differences within the party came to the fore with allegations that Prashant and Yadav were trying to "remove" Kejriwal from the party convener’s post.

The party’s National Executive will meet tomorrow to take a call on all issues, including the latest controversy over  differences in the party. Sources said a proposal may be mooted in the meeting to remove Bhushan and Yadav and Kejriwal was unlikely to attend the meeting.

Naturopathy treatment for Kejri in Bengaluru
Kejriwal will leave for Bengaluru tomorrow for a 10-day naturopathy treatment for high sugar level, an official said. "His (Kejriwal) sugar level is above 300. So he has decided to opt for naturopathy. He will leave for Bengaluru tomorrow (Wednesday)," the official said. — PTI