AAP drama: Arvind Kejriwal resigns as national convener
In his resignation latter, the Delhi Chief Minister has reportedly said he is "too busy" with his work in the national capital and feels "over-burdened".
Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Aam Aadmi Party's national convener on Wednesday moments before the crucial National Executive of the party is scheduled to meet in New Delhi to decide the fate of party rebels Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
In his resignation latter, the Delhi Chief Minister has reportedly said he is "too busy" with his work in the national capital and feels "over-burdened". He said he will not be able to handle both the jobs "efficiently" and wants to concentrate on Delhi only, which his party won recently with a historic mandate.
Kejriwal's resignation will now be discussed in the National Executive which is expected to begin at 2 pm. AAP National Secretary Pankaj Gupta is also expected to put in his papers in the National Executive, where 20 top members of the party will decide whether Kejriwal's resignation should be accepted or not.
Yogendra Yadav, whose fate is likely to be decided in the National Executive, said he was not aware of Kejriwal's resignation. "If Arvind has resigned then just like the last time we will oppose it again. Last time also, Prashant (Bhushan) and I had raised our hands and opposed his resignation. It is important for the party that he stays on as national convener," he said.
Sources in the AAP said Yadav and Bhushan might be removed from the party's highest decision making body, the Political Affairs Committee, for their rebellion. AAP leader Navin Jaihind, who is expected to propose the sacking of the two leaders in the crucial meeting, told a TV channel: "They have been involved in anti-party activities and are trying to divide the party everywhere. Mr Kejriwal has been lenient. Anyone else would have been sacked long back."
Sources in the party said Yadav may be offered to lead the Kisan Morcha Wing of the two-year-old party while Bhushan is likely to be offered a post in the AAP's internal Lokpal, headed by retired Admiral Ramadoss.
According to sources in the AAP, health is not the reason for Kejriwal's absence from the National Executive meeting. The 46-year-old leader, who is expected to fly to Bangalore on Wednesday evening for a 10-day naturopathy treatment, is likely to attend to his usual work at the Delhi Secretariat.
On Tuesday, the Delhi Chief Minister had finally broken his silence on the massive rumbling within his party, saying he was deeply hurt and pained by it. "Deeply hurt and pained by what is going on in the party; this is betrayal of trust that Delhi posed in us," Kejriwal said in a tweet. "I refuse to be drawn into this ugly battle. Will concentrate on Delhi's governance. Will not let people's trust break under any circumstances," he said.