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AAP infighting: Arvind Kejriwal attempts damage control, rejects Yogendra Yadav's resignation

AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal gets into damage control after bitter infighting

New Delhi: Grappling with bitter infighting, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday attempted to reach out to the dissidents by offering to restructure the party and claimed that all the "differences" among the leaders have been resolved.

As party's National Executive met for the second successive day, Kejriwal put up a brave front claiming that things are going smooth and there will be an organisational restructuring soon including possible expansion of AAP's Political Affairs Committee, the highest making body.

The meeting, attended by almost all senior AAP leaders, came in the backdrop of growing voices of dissent against Kejriwal including his style of functioning by senior party leader Yogendra Yadav.

"Resignations will be discussed tomorrow. All things are going smooth and differences are resolved. We are discussing organisational structure. Expansion of PAC could be possible," Kejriwal said.

He also said that efforts would be made to bring back Shazia Ilmi who had quit the party last month while slamming Kejriwal.

The National Executive meeting, attended by party leaders from across the country, has been called to review AAP's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls and to chalk out the future course of action, including preparations for the next Delhi assembly polls.

Rift in the party's top leadership emerged after exchange of letters between Yadav and Manish Sisodia. A number of other leaders are also apparently unhappy over Kejriwal's functioning which some of them termed as "autocratic".

"Yog(endra) Yadav has raised some imp (sic) issues. All of us will work on it. Yog yadav is a v dear friend and a valued colleague. Had long discussion with him...," Kejriwal tweeted earlier in the day.

In an another tweet, he said, "We will also try to get Shazia back."

Ilmi and Yadav, known to be a key strategist, have been sharply critical of Kejriwal after the party's Lok Sabha debacle.

Yadav, who quit from Political Affairs Committee, had charged the party with "falling prey to personality cult" while Ilmi had alleged that Kejriwal was surrounded by a coterie and that the party lacked internal democracy.

Sisodia, Kejriwal's close aide, had hit back at Yadav accusing him of targeting the AAP chief and making internal matters public.

The fledgling party had made a stunning debut in the Delhi Assembly polls in December by winning 28 out of 70 seats and even formed a government. But Kejriwal quit as Chief Minister after 49 days on the issue of Janlokpal Bill.

The party fought the Lok Sabha elections in over 420 seats but could win only four in Punjab while drawing a blank in the capital following which Kejriwal and his close associates have come under attack.

The AAP leader has also drawn flak after failed attempt to form government again and his initial refusal to submit a bond in a defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, which led to his going to jail.

Watch: AAP leaders decided the way ahead after internal differences

( Source : PTI )
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