The abrupt expulsions of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) top leaders, from the national executive committee, lays bare the infighting and power games that threaten to fracture the organization.
What has played out over the past few weeks is nothing short of a soap opera. The AAP, with a manifesto devoted solely to fighting corruption in favour of the common man, posted sensational results in the Delhi elections with their supremo Arvind Kejriwal elected to the post of chief minister. Things have fallen apart thereafter with Yadav and Bhushan accusing Kejriwal of being a dictator. The ego games have spilled on to the street.
Political infighting exists in most parties. This has been demonstrated by the AAP as well. The timing is bad given that they have received the people’s mandate for a second stint at governing Delhi, since Kejriwal sensationally walked out of the chief minister’s post after a chaotic 49 days in his first innings.
The AAP’s reforms for Delhi have now been overshadowed by these recent developments. Reluctance to compromise has led to loss of credibility with the threat of bigger fissures being forecast unless both parties call a truce.
