Reconciliation on the cards? Arvind Kejriwal back in Delhi, senior AAP leaders want dialogue
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was undergoing treatment in Bengaluru for chronic cough and asthma-related problems, returned to the national capital on Monday night amid infighting in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
“Cough gone, sugar under control. Feeling fresh and fit. I am excited to return to resume work. Grateful to Jindal Institute, its doctors, staff. Congratulations two Sitaramji for setting up such a wonderful institute and running it so welcome,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted in Bengaluru.
Cough gone, sugar under control. Feeling fresh n fit. Am excited to return to resume work(1/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 16, 2015Grateful 2 Jindal institute,its docs,staff. Congratulations 2 Sitaram ji for setting up such a wonderful institute n running it so well(2/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 16, 2015However, there is a huge task in hand as Kejriwal hopes to bridge the divide between senior party leaders. The Delhi chief minister held a meeting with senior party leaders as he expressed displeasure at public statements made by senior leaders in his absence.
Though there seems to be a sign of reconciliation after both camps in AAP camps have termed the discussions as ‘positive’, Kejriwal is likely to remove all dissenters, before he resigns as from the post of party convenor. He earlier sent his resignation stating he was ‘overburdened with work’ as Delhi chief minister.
AAP leader Prashant Bhushan will be meeting Kejriwal to discuss the ongoing issues. "If he wants I can meet him with Yogendraji, to sort out the problems to whatever extent possible," Bhushan was quoted saying.
Read: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to meet Prashant Bhushan soon
While Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav have their own ideologies, which are more idealistic than practical, the clash of ideas within AAP is not one which can be easily solved by dialogue. The difference in approach and opinion will have to see one side bend to the other.
The expectations from the meeting too are not very high. Although Bhushan said he wanted to meet Kejriwal to put an end to the row, he is unsure whether his camp will still remain a part of AAP as there will be supporters from the Kejriwal faction to silence the weaker camp.
Kejriwal supporters had alleged that Bhushan and Yadav wanted the party to lose the Delhi Assembly elections and were attempting to remove the Delhi Chief Minister from the post of AAP National Convener.
There were also allegations that by Bhushan and Yadav camp that Kejriwal loyalists have been moving away from its core principles – fighting corruption, inner democracy and transparency. On the contrary, Kejriwal’s followers suspect the duo of conspiracy against the leader.
Read: AAP leaders from Arvind Kejriwal camp meet Yogendra Yadav in a bid to end internal rift
Earlier this month, senior leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav were removed from the Political Affairs Committee of the Aam Aadmi Party at a meeting while Kejriwal was away in Bengaluru.
In Kejriwal’s absence, Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, clarified that Bhushan and Yadav were removed from the PAC as they indulged in “anti-party activities” like trying to tarnish Kejriwal’s image and an effort to make AAP lose Delhi elections.
The duo refuted the allegations while listing out reasons for their differences. However, AAP has also indicated that Bhushan and Yadav are likely to be sacked. According to them, the rift started after the defeat in Lok Sabha elections when Kejriwal allegedly proposed the idea of forming a government again in Delhi with Congress' support.
The 46-year-old AAP leader was discharged from the Jindal Nature Cure Institute where he was admitted on March 5 and returned to Delhi at around 8 pm.
“In the last 12 days, I got the time to think on what changes which can be brought in Delhi, especially in education and ration scheme (PDS). I used to speak to Manish (Sisodia),” Kejriwal said.
While during his short stay in Bengaluru, Kejriwal’s system has been detoxified through various treatments, he still has to put his mind and soul in solving the ongoing rift.
