NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Saturday kicked out two of its senior leaders from the party’s key panel for criticising the style of functioning of its supremo Arvind Kejriwal.
Both Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan along with two other senior leaders Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha were thrown out from the national executive of the party at AAP National Council meeting Saturday. Indications are disciplinary action will be initiated against them before their imminent expulsion from the party.
Supporters of the two factions lined up outside a private resort at Delhi-Gurgaon border Kapashera, venue of the meeting.
“Whatever happened at the National Council was murder of democracy,” Yadav said.
Both Yadav and Bhushan were removed from the party’s political affairs committee earlier this month.
The national council meeting started amid controversy as Admiral Ramdass, who is internal Lokpal of the party, was asked to keep away from the meeting. AAP general secretary Pankaj Gupta asked the former Indian Navy chief to skip the meeting to avoid confrontation.
Yadav sat on protest for some time outside the venue saying many members of the national council were denied entries.
Kejriwal reached the venue around 9:30am amid heavy police protection and delivered an emotional speech. He left the venue handing over charge of chairing the meeting to senior colleague Gopal Rai.
Yadav alleged anyone who demanded a discussion were physically assaulted and removed from the venue.
The party later announced that 247 national council members voted for removal of Yadav and Bhushan and only eight voted against it. 54 members abstained from voting.
Yadav, however, contested this saying, while genuine voters were denied entries, the hall was packed with special invitees who do not have voting rights. “Our plea to keep special invitees away from voting was not heeded,” Yadav alleged.
AAP spokesman Sanjay Singh denied voting was unfair and claimed no one was assaulted amid allegations that anyone questioning Kejriwal’s leadership or demanding a debate were roughed up by professional bouncers brought in especially for the meeting.
Bhushan later reiterated his allegation that Kejriwal was a dictator. “I failed in my attempt to curb his dictatorial tendency in AAP ... Kejriwal used dictatorial tendencies to ruthlessly stifle dissent,” Bhushan said, while commenting on Kejriwal’s threat to kick dissidents on their backsides, which came to light when the recording of a sting operation was made public on Friday.
“I am ashamed to say that whatever was revealed about Kejriwal in the sting yesterday was executed today,” Bhushan said.
The four leaders removed from the national executive later held a press conference away from the venue where they were joined by leaders from several state units.
Another AAP leader and noted social activist Medha Patkar later announced her decision to quit the party in protest against the treatment meted out to both Yadav and Bhushan.
AAP insiders say the decision to remove Yadav and Bhushan without following constitutional process was taken in view of Kejriwal’s threat to form a new party along with his 66 Delhi lawmakers if he was forced to work with the duo.
