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NEW DELHI: It is not clear what the fight is all about, although both sides in the Aam Aadmi Party have been accusing each other of being undemocratic. It has clearly to do with ego’s arising from ‘ownership’ of the party with some AAP leaders smarting over being ignored, and fighting for supposedly more democratic system.
Ideologues Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, essentially loners, had been part of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement and then became part of the political party when it emerged out of the movement. At that time Hazare was extremely upset about this, although the decision to form the party was taken at several meetings in which he was usually present. Bhushan and Yadav were part of the ‘think tank’ of AAP, and played a role along with others in formulating basic policies in the initial stages.
The first chinks came with Kejriwal’s dharna’s during his first tenure as the chief minister last year, with both Bhushan and Yadav visibly embarrassed and disapproving. However, by the simple virtue of emerging as a major party in Delhi Kejriwal’s political base expanded considerably, and to a point where the non-political players of the party were forced into a low key position. This was further consolidated over the months to the next election, with AAP moving out of the ‘intellectual’ domain, into the political. The process was accelerated after the Lok Sabha elections really, with the party hunkering down into setting up committees and organisations in preparation of the second Assembly elections.
In the process Kejriwal became closer to Manoj Sisodia and Aashutosh, who spoke a similar language and whom he found easier to deal with than the more intellectual Bhushan and Yadav who were more critical of him as a person, despite his growing popularity. Their suggestions were not all palatable to the more political wing of the party and the divide was visible during the campaign for the Assembly elections with both Bhushan and Yadav barely seen at the public meetings. They did campaign in some constituencies when asked, but were generally not visible. And Bhushan’s father Shashi Bhushan who was associated both with the Hazare movement and AAP in the initial days came out at the crucial juncture with a statement in favour of the BJP and its chief ministerial candidate Kiran bedi. This fed into rumours that Kejriwal was in cahoots with the BJP, embarrassing the AAP leaders no end.
AAP came to power but with Sisodia as the new face beside Kejriwal. There was no sign of Bhushan and Yadav who did make a few appearances on television to support the peoples verdict. But the old enthusiasm was missing completely. Off the record briefings added to the “Bhushan, Yadav Unhappy” reports with both now crossing all lines to give on the record interviews critical of Kejriwal. “I can't follow the high command culture that every political party has". Prashant Bhushan said. He admitted that communication between him and Kejriwal was a casualty of these elections. He along with Yadav have in a letter, that was leaked to the media, claimed that inner party democracy needed to be strengthened and hinted that there was some truth in the earlier reports of bogus funding for AAP. All this without leaving the party.
On the other side of course are the loyalists, with the list including Sisodia, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh who managed Kejriwal’s Varanasi campaign, Ashish Khetan. They are being described as ‘yes men’ by the other camp, while they accuse Bhushan and Yadav of being “opportunists.” Chief Minister Kejriwal has said he was extremely pained over what is going on within the party.
Significantly the rank and file are with Kejriwal, and many believe that Yadav, even more than Bhushan, was “trying to take over AAP.” Some in the party who spoke to The Citizen even claimed that it was a move by them to “throw out” Kejriwal as the leader of AAP. This has been a key demand of both of them, supported by ombudsman Admiral Ramadoss, that the party should follow the one man, one post principle.
Kejriwal’s unilateral style of functioning has worried these leaders, as they claim he is unwilling to listen to others, and bent upon acting according to his own will. His supporters insist he listens to the people and wants to act on their will, rather than the will of individual leaders.
Thursday is expected to sort out the issue, with the larger sections of the party visibly angry about Bhushan and Yadav’s decision to go to the media when the need of the hour was to consolidate and work together. Ashutosh said as much while pointing out that the same issues could have been discussed inside the party and not outside in the media. An ultimatum to leave or to work with the consensus is likely to emerge from the executive meet on Thursday for Bhushan, Yadav and their supporters to consider.
