New Delhi: The rift in Delhi's ruling AAP escalated on Thursday with the party claiming that senior leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav had quit its national executive but the two denied this.
Making the announcement, party spokesman Ashish Khetan said both Bhushan and Yadav appeared to be dead set against the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP's best known face who took power on February 14.
"The main issue was that Arvind should become weak," he said, adding, "Yogendra Yadav publicly says something else and privately says another thing."
Another AAP leader, Kumar Vishwas, said all the five proposals of Bhushan and Yadav were accepted by the party but their demand for axing Kejriwal as the national convener had to decided by the national executive.
Talking to reporters after the PAC meet, which took place at Kejriwal's place today, Vishwas said, "Since last 10 days the happenings in party have unfortunately come to a point where it’s important that we share them with you," adding, "Yadav and Bhushan had offered their resignation on 17 March on five conditions. AAP accepted all their demands but Yadav and Bhushan did not resign," as per ANI.
He further said, "Now they are asking for Kejriwal‘s resignation as the National convener of the party, which will be decided on March 28 by NC."
On the other hand AAP leader and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia tweeted: "Talks with PB and YY failed. They insisting on removing AK from National Convener post. NC to decide on 28 July weather to remove AK or not. (Sic)"
He also tweeted: "Despite accepting all their demands they are insisting to remove AK. In public they say AK is the leader, in private they insist on his removal."
In another post Sisodia wrote: "No effort to remove Arvind Kejriwal is accepted to me. Let the NC decide on 28 March now."
Talks with PB and YY failed. They insisting on removing AK from National Conv post. NC to decide on 28July weather to remove AK or not!
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) March 26, 2015
Despite accepting all their demands they are insisting to remove AK. In public they say AK is the leader, in pvt they insist on his removal.
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) March 26, 2015
In the mounting war of words, Bhushan and Yadav denied the charges made against them. Bhushan went on to say that Kejriwal wanted only "yes men" around him.
Both are set to hold a press conference on Friday.
A founder member of the AAP and a leading Supreme Court advocate, Bhushan told the media that it was a lie to say that he and Yadav wanted to see Kejriwal step down as the national convenor.
"This is a lie, we never made this demand," he said. "All we have asked for is transparency in the party," as per IANS.
Meanwhile Yadav also took to micro-blogging site Twitter and posted: "I hear funny news about the PAC accepting our resignation. Will my colleagues please produce a copy of the resignation letter?"
In another tweet he wrote: "Ridiculous claim that we insisted on AK's removal. This wasn't mentioned in our note, never came up for discussion. Can they give any proof?" adding, "Another lie that I asked for Haryana. Actually they repeatedly offered Haryana. We refused to even discuss it."
"What is being passed off as resignation letter is a note for internal negotiations. We said we will resign if 5 conditions were met," Yadav also posted.
I hear funny news about the PAC accepting our resignation. Will my colleagues please produce a copy of the resignation letter?
— Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) March 26, 2015
Ridiculous claim that we insisted on AK's removal. This wasn't mentioned in our note, never came up for discussion. Can they give any proof?
— Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) March 26, 2015
What is being passed off as "resignation letter" is a note for internal negotiations. We said we will resign if 5 conditions were met.
— Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) March 26, 2015
Yadav also tweeted the open letter that he wrote to Delhi CM.
To know the truth about our negotiations, please read our Open Letter to Arvind Kejriwal at https://t.co/V9YIg8DfWZ
— Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) March 26, 2015
The AAP has been embroiled in an internal tussle after taking power in Delhi last month, with the pro-Kejriwal camp accusing Bhushan and Yadav of trying to oust the chief minister. Both have denied the charge.
Yesterday, late in the night, Yadav had tweeted:
A fake campaign is being run in my name. Callers with false identities proposing me as national convenor. Ridiculous. Outrageous. BEWARE!
— Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) March 25, 2015
More info about fake campaign coming in. If anyone calls you on my behalf & solicits support for me against AK, please note the no & report.
— Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) March 25, 2015
