Why did AAP’s founding members decide to leave the party?

The founding members of AAP, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan have decided to leave the party over an internal conflict with Kejriwal. Bhushan slammed Kejriwal for abolishing party’s collective decisions.

Bhushan accused AAP of seeking Congress’ support for forming the government in Delhi.

AAP’s Delhi state secretary, Dilip Pandey has accused Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan of anti-party activities in his letter to the National secretary, Pankaj Gupta. As a result, the National secretary has advised the party’s leader, Kejriwal to form a new PAC, party’s Political Affairs Committee.

The party formed a 3-member panel to discuss the issue with Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan. The panel met the duo on Saturday night and Sunday morning, respectively.

Top leader of the AAP told Economic Times, “The ball is now in Arvind’s court as he has the final authority to decide who will be part of the party.”

Along with leaving the PAC, Yadav discussed his demands for organisational reforms and more frequent meetings of bodies with the panel. Bhushan in his discussion with the panel shared that Delhi Ministers, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai should also leave the party so that the new talent could contribute in the top decision-making body. According to him, AAP needs geographical and gender diversity. However this suggestion wa sonly optional according to one of the top leaders of the party.

Bhushan told Economic Times, “I am not interested in holding any post in the party. I just want to ensure that the party should not compromise on its founding principles. There are certainly some problems with internal democracy and transparency which need to be corrected. I do not wish to say any more.”

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