NEW DELHI: Senior hu­man rights lawyer Pra­shant Bhushan and popular media analyst Yogendra Yadav who helped found India’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were expelled from the party’s decision-making Political Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Both were believed to have favoured party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s removal from the AAP convener’s post and to focus more on running the Delhi government as chief minister.

Mr Bhushan and Mr Yadav were removed from their PAC membership by an 11-8 vote. Mr Kejriwal had threatened to resign from the post in view of the “ugly” battle among his comrades. He did not participate in Wednesday’s meeting and was reported to be undergoing treatment for chronic cough and diabetes in Bangalore.

Mr Yadav and Mr Bhushan’s ouster from PAC came days after the duo had raised red flag against continuation of Mr Kejriwal as National Convener. They ahd reportedly questioned his working style.

This apparently evoked a sharp reaction from Mr Kejriwal’s supporters who accused Mr Bhushan and his father Shanti Bhushan of wanting to have a “vice-like grip” on all party wings.

The two leaders left the stormy session after the decision of the executive. While Mr Yadav maintained that he would continue working as dedicated worker of the party, Mr Bhushan left saying that a majority decision will prevail.

“I will work as a dedicated worker of the party and will do whatever role I am asked to do,” said Mr Yadav. After the meeting, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said that no personal differences would be allowed to split the party.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2015

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