Sting shows Arvind Kejriwal’s ugly side ahead of crucial AAP meeting today

New Delhi: Neck deep in bitter accusations and counter-accusations, a full-scale war has erupted within the Aam Aadmi Party, that appeared just a day away from an imminent breakup.

TV channels aired a conversation purportedly between AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and one Umesh Singh, a party worker.

“You don’t know how they (Yadav and Bhushan) were working against AAP’s interests during the elections...I am not here to be part of any brawl. I am contemplating starting a new party...will leave AAP with 66 MLAs.”

Sources said the AAP is likely to move a proposal at its national council meeting Saturday to expel rebel leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan on charges of conspiring to remove Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal as its national convener and indulging in anti-party activities.

Party sources said the situation had turned so ugly in the party that it would be impossible to work with the duo. The party will find a way to oust the dissident leaders, who have already been removed from its key decision-making body, the Political Affairs Committee.

“They will first be voted out of the party’s national executive, which is the second-most important body in the AAP, and then showcause notices will be issued to both asking them to explain why should they not be ousted from the AAP,” a source said.

The dissident leaders, however, claimed it will not be easy to oust them from the AAP. “The national council has the powers to remove us from the national executive, but not from the party. If we have to be removed from the party, the matter has to be referred to the internal lokpal or the disciplinary committee. We have already referred the charges levelled against us to the lokpal, which the AAP has not done so far,” said Mr Bhushan, who heads the party’s disciplinary committee. He also indicated at possible legal action against the AAP if the party tries to expel them.

Read: AAP rift: Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan should 'depart gracefully’, says Kumar Vishwas

Under the AAP’s constitution, action is not possible against a member unless he/she is given an opportunity to explain his/her stand.

“Disciplinary action may result in penalties ranging from warning, suspension or expulsion from the party. No disciplinary action shall be taken against a member without giving an opportunity to that member to explain and answer charges against him/her,” the AAP’s constitution states.

Ahead of the NC meet, Mr Bhushan and Mr Yadav shot off a letter to party secretary Pankaj Gupta demanding party’s internal lokpal, Admiral L. Ramdas to chair the meet. “We hope that this meeting of the NC will be videographed. We also hope that a neutral person will be asked to conduct the meeting,” the letter reads.