Kapil Mishra says was axed due to tanker scam expose

Shortly after being removed from the Delhi Cabinet, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kapil Mishra on Saturday said he may have been axed for saying he would submit the names of those people involved in the tanker scam to the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB).

"It has nothing to do with the MCD polls, and till now, I have not received any official confirmation so far. But I met Arvind Kejriwal this morning, and I said that it has been a year since the report on the tanker scam was tabled and no action has been taken," Mishra told ANI.

"I had told him that I will submit the names of the responsible persons to the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB)," Mishra added.

He said he would expose the names involved in the tanker scam tomorrow.

However, sources close to Kejriwal claim that Mishra did not meet the Chief Minister and neither he submitted any papers related to the tanker scam.

"I have also written a letter to the ACB and have sought appointment from them.Tomorrow, I will expose everyone involved in the scam and will apprise the ACB," he added.

He also denied that he was ousted for supporting AAP leader Kumar Vishwas.

When asked if he would be removed from the party, he said, "This party belongs to me, no one can remove me. I am the founder. I have been an active participant, I was also a part of the India Against Corruption (campaign), organised various protests, suffered serious injuries in a baton charge for the party. This is our party."

Mishra tweeted that he was the only minister who has not come under the CBI scanner and has not been charged with corruption.

"I am the only minister with no corruption charges. no CBI enquiry against me," he said.

However, at the same time, Vishwas also put a tweet saying, "I want to assure our party workers and the nation that we will continue to raise our voices against corruption, irrespective of what the outcome is."

This decision comes soon after the AAP suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP in the recently concluded MCD polls.

Recently, a rift developed within the party after Amanatulla Khan had alleged that Vishwas was planning a coup against Kejirwal. Vishwas had threatened to quit the party before Kejriwal and other senior AAP leaders managed to assuage his hurt feelings and appointed him in charge of the AAP's affairs in Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, Rajendra Gautam and Kailash Gahlot have been included in the Delhi Cabinet.

Mishra was believed to be close to Vishwas. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, "Water management was not up to the mark. Kapil Mishra made a lot of effort. The Chief Minister decided to bring in Kailash Gahlot in his place."

He added that two persons have been included in the Cabinet now-- Kailash Gahlot and Rajendra Gautam for a post which was vacant.

Speculation and rumours, however, are afloat that today's axing of Mishra from the Delhi Cabinet was an attempt by Chief Minister Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia to send a veiled message across to the Vishwas camp that to quell any sort of dissent. Rumours abound that the AAP is currently bifurcated into two camps, one led by Kejriwal and the other by Kumar Vishwas. The political impact of today's axing of a key associate and minister is yet to unravel.