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NEW DELHI: Nothing succeeds like success, and nothing is more controversial either. A dog and cat war has broken out between two groups who dominated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at different points in his political history, are now daggers drawn in what is little more than an effort to control the state government.
Bhushan and Yadav have joined hands to oppose Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh and to some extent Manish Sisodia who are seen as currently close to Kejriwal with neither side now willing to let go of the ground they had held, or hold today. Kejriwal who after expressing his ‘anguish’ has retreated for a ten day treatment for diabetes is clearly hoping that the slug-fest will end by the time he re-emerges and the two groups would have settled the issues.
The political affairs committee of the party met, and took a decision to expel both Bhushan and Yadav although it was virtually split down the middle. This in itself showed that both have support within AAP with even the party ombudsman Admiral Ramadoss reportedly supporting them. However, despite the expulsion they have both chosen to stay in the party which might or might not be a good thing, depending on the damage that is done to the party and the Delhi government in the process.
Another AAP leader Mayank Gandhi, following the party ‘tradition’ of making every secret public, has revealed that the resolution to expel the two came from Kejriwal’s Man Friday Manish Sisodia. And hence the interpretation now is that the chief minister, despite claiming impartiality, wants the duo to be removed from the party.
There is a growing realisation within the party that one, these public ‘leaks’ are damaging the party and government beyond measure; and two, since the party’s leader now is Arvind Kejriwal those who do not enjoy his confidence or do not like his way of functioning should leave of their own accord, instead of fighting to stay. And of course there are those--albeit in a minority--- who have started propounding ‘conspiracy’ plots being hatched by political parties wanting to see AAP get out of power.
There is a sense of disillusionment being voiced over the social media in response to these posts, with many a volunteer urging the leaders to sort out their differences. “They are at it again” is the refrain with the political affairs committee meeting not sorting out a thing, but merely burying it until the Chief Minister returns from Bengaluru to Delhi.
Yadav merely has re-started his salt yatra, for whatever it is worth at this stage. A fig leaf of differences over issues is being given to what is essentially an ego-fight for proximity to the chief minister. Both groups want to be within touching distance of Kejriwal, as the power behind the throne. Neither has offered a plausible reason for the face off that is doing tremendous harm to AAP, with Yadav and Bhushan of course maintaining that their objections are issue based, an argument that has clearly cut no ice with AAP members.
A reunion, even if it happens, will be patchy as clearly the differences between the two groups are wide. Yadav is still seen as expendable, with Bhushan less controversial and more popular within the party. Volunteers claim that they would like the latter to stay, and there is talk now of accommodating Bhushan in some position outside the PAC. It must be recalled, however, that both he and Yadav were a set of equals with Kejriwal and are not likely to be settled in the ‘new position’ whatever that might eventually be. Rumours without substantiation suggest that Bhushan might be asked to head the legal cell of the party, although that is probably not the role he envisages for himself within AAP.
Kejriwal will probably find that the mess has not taken care of itself as he hoped, and will have to wave the broom around to ensure that AAP emerges from the dust as a more cohesive party. As Janata Dal(U) leader Pavan Verma said, you cannot run a political party like a NGO and it needs to have a system, and a method, otherwise it will be anarchic.
