Differences emerge in AAP's top rung

Sisodia accuses Yogendra Yadav of targeting Arvind Kejriwal, making internal matters public

Differences in the top rung of Aam Aadmi Party have come to the fore with Manish Sisodia accusing Yogendra Yadav of targeting party chief Arvind Kejriwal and making internal matters public.

 

In a letter written in response to Yadav's email, Sisodia said, "Your (Yadav) broad allegations are Arvind (Kejriwal) does not listen to the suggestions of the PAC (Political Affairs Committee). I am surprised reading your email because till the time Kejriwal agreed with you, he was democratic." Sisodia was referring to the recent row between Naveen Jaihind and Yadav after which Jaihind quit the National Executive and the latter the PAC membership.

 

Yadav and Jaihind had unsuccessfully contested from Gurgaon and Rohtak Lok Sabha seats respectively. The former was the Haryana in-charge while the latter was the party's state convener.

 

Sisodia and Yadav were not immediately available for their comment.

 

The letter, which was written earlier this week, said that it was Kejriwal who backed Yadav's decision of contesting from Gurgaon despite other PAC leaders opposing the move, but the AAP chief managed to convince others.

 

"When you wanted to become Haryana in-charge and wanted to be projected as the CM candidate despite opposition from other PAC members, Arvind backed you. At that time he was democratic (for you).

 

"The state of affairs of the party in Haryana is in a shambles. Volunteers talk about your fight with Jaihind," he said. 

 

Sisodia said, "You want strict action against Naveen (Jaihind) and when Kejriwal does not agree with you, then you call him of being a party supremo."

 

The former Delhi Minister said Kejriwal, after resigning as the Delhi Chief Minister, was not in favour of contesting Lok Sabha polls across the country, but wanted to focus on Delhi.

 

But Yadav along with other PAC members were in favour of contesting the polls and "the results are before us", Sisodia said.

 

"After the fall of our government in Delhi, you conducted a survey in Haryana which said that party may get around 23% of votes in the state, but under your leadership, it has managed to get only 3% of votes. This requires introspection," Sisodia said.

 

A senior AAP leader said the letter was written after the party's rout in Haryana.

 

"We were not expecting this dismal performance in Haryana and in fact Punjab was a surprise. The recent squabbles between Jaihind and Yadav prompted Sisodia to write the letter," the AAP leader said.