New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party remained a house divided as key dissident leader Prashant Bhushan refused to meet Delhi unit leaders deputed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to end the internal strife that has plagued its top ranks.
Mr Bhushan made overtures to Mr Kejriwal on Monday, expressing his desire to meet the AAP convener, to which Mr Kejriwal responded saying he “is busy with the Budget, and will meet soon”. The AAP also held its first meeting of the political affairs committee on Tuesday after founder leaders Yogendra Yadav and Mr Bhushan were dropped from it.
Sources said Mr Bhushan declined to meet anyone else to ease differences between him and Mr Kejriwal, though a key Delhi unit member was requested to hold talks with him.
“AAP leader Ashish Khetan had sought to meet Mr Bhushan, who declined saying the meet wouldn’t serve any purpose,” a source said.
It was Mr Khetan who had earlier lashed out at the Bhushans, including Shanti Bhushan and his daughter Shalini Gupta, accusing all three for wanting to have a “vice-like grip” on the party and its units. He had later expressed regret over his comments, and deleted a series of accusatory tweets.
There are indications that despite Mr Bhushan’s reluctance to meet anybody other than Mr Kejriwal, Mr Yadav is ready for a truce as he met Delhi unit leaders on Monday night. “I will definitely meet him (Arvind Kejriwal) whenever I find time,” Mr Yadav said on Tuesday.
Senior leaders from the Arvind Kejriwal camp met Yogendra Yadav at his residence in an attempt to “break the ice” between the warring factions.
The meeting that started on late Monday night lasted until 2.30 am. Several leaders including the PAC members Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh. The leaders termed the meeting as positive.
