Ashish Khetan calls for debate on horse-trading allegations

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashish Khetan on Wednesday called for a national debate over allegations of horse-trading against party chief Arvind Kejriwal.

"I want to make it clear; there must be a debate on this tape all across the country. Some people are using the big word like 'horse trading' very irresponsibly. Political realignment is a reality in politics, but 'horse trading' is wrong. Even if we assume the tape is authentic, where does it suggest that monetary gains were offered by AAP in exchange of support?" asked Khetan.

"Political realignment is not 'jod-tod', that tape does not suggest at all that we accepted Congress' support through immoral means. PDP-BJP have formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir, this is also an example of realignment," he added.

Earlier in the day, AAP's senior member from Maharashtra Anjali Damania quit over allegations of horse-trading against Kejriwal.

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With her tweet, she linked the video of a news report by a TV channel featuring the recording of a purported telephone conversation between former AAP legislator Rajesh Garg and a man who he alleges is Kejriwal.

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Damania's disclosure comes at a time when the AAP has been plunged into an internal crisis, with Kejriwal's supporters seeking the ouster of founder members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan. The AAP chief's supporters have accused the duo of attempting to unseat Kejriwal and of having tried to ensure that the party lost the Delhi Assembly polls.