Meem Afzal supports Shazia's resignation from AAP

Congress leader Meem Afzal on Saturday termed Shazia Ilmi's resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the right step.

"This is a good thing if she has realized it today. The earlier she understands these policies of the AAP, it is good and others should also understand. She was a strong pillar of the AAP, which has fallen now," Afzal said.

He also charged the AAP with having no democracy within the party and raised question marks about the party's sincerity in fighting for the masses.

"There is nothing like democracy in AAP. Now, Shazia Ilmi has realized this. The AAP is a party of three to four people. It was and will never be a party of the Aam Aadmi," Afzal added.

Putting speculation to rest, Ilmi had on Saturday officially declared that she was resigning from the party, as she felt that it lacked inner-party democracy.

Addressing a press conference, she said, "Feel sad in saying that I am resigning from the AAP."

"AAP did a lot to change national political discourse, but it lacked inner-party democracy. I find it amazing that we cannot follow the principles of Swaraj in our own party. I raised questions on ticket distribution in the party (AAP) and the roles given to different leaders," Ilmi said.

"I feel the party (AAP) is not moving in a good direction, I see no hope. I hope my departure makes them introspect." she added.

Shazia had an advise for her party to change tack of doing agitational politics.

"Fasts and demonstrations were helpful earlier on but now they are not, people don't like it," she said.

"Arvind has shot the messenger, I was consistently sidelined in the party. I still have the greatest of respect for Arvind and the numerous volunteers," she said.

She made it clear that she was not joining any other party.

Ilmi had contested both the Delhi Assembly elections and the Lok Sabha elections, and had lost in both.

Ilmi was reportedly unhappy with some of the AAP's decisions, and had been thinking of leaving the party for quite sometime.