New Delhi: Infighting within the Aam Aadmi Party reached breaking point on Monday when the outfit hinted at action against founding members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav after they criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the party's style of functioning.
Without naming Bhushan and Yadav, AAP senior leader Sanjay Singh referred to statements and letters by them which amounted to making the party a butt of ridicule and a "joke of us".
He also targeted party patron Shanti Bhushan for his comment in an interview that Kejriwal should be replaced by Yadav.
"Someone from within the party, certain senior leaders are trying to remove Arvind Kejriwal from the post of National Convener, by targeting him and maligning the party," Singh said.
The controversy surfaced after a letter written by Prashant Bhushan to AAP National Executive criticising functioning of the pary was leaked to media.
"Running one person-centric campaign may be effective, but does that justify sacrificing our principles? We will need to make a conscious course correction if we have to get away from a supremo controlled party," the letter said.
Expressing displeasure over the leaking of letters to the media, Singh, who is a member of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) member, said the issues could be discussed in the party forum rather than bringing them before the public through the media.
He announced that the party's national executive would meet on Wednesday and decide on all issues including the latest controversy over differences in the party.
Another bone of contetition within AAP is believed to be Kejriwal's decision to remain confined only on Delhi in the coming five years whereas other leaders like Yadav, are keen on taking the fight beyond Delhi.
"This isn't a clash of ego, it's a clash of ideas," AAP leader Ashutosh said.
Amid the ongoing rumbling within the AAP, senior party leader Yogendra Yadav on Monday said all stories on the crisis in the party are "imaginary" and it was time to work after the big victory in the polls and not indulge in "small acts". He said in politics there should be difference of "opinion" and not "minds".
As the rift between senior members is out in the open all eyes are now on national meet of AAP as to what action, if any is taken against these members who have been openly criticising the party's functioning and Kejriwal himself.
(With inputs from PTI)
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