The growing rift within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took another turn on Tuesday with senior advocate and party member HS Phoolka attacking senior party leader Yogendra Yadav. He said the party's campaign committee members had ensured his loss in the Lok Sabha elections.
"Yogendra Yadav constituted a campaign committee for Punjab. He ensured that I do not win. These were the kind of things that were going on. But I kept quiet in the party's interest and maintained working relations with Yadav throughout," Phoolka said.
"What I am surprised about is that I always had good relations with Yogendra Yadav. I was shocked that why is it being done to me. I want the national executive to ask Yadav to explain why that one month was wasted? Why was I directed not to go to Punjab? Yadav needs to explain how my going to Punjab would have adversely affected the party?" he questioned.
Phoolka said he wanted to quit the party during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal persuaded him to continue.
"I was totally gagged for almost a month. I was not allowed to go to Punjab or the media. I was so disillusioned that around mid-February I sent an SMS to Kejriwal and offered to quit," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"I was totally gagged for almost a month. I was not allowed to go to Punjab or the media. I was so disillusioned that around mid-February I sent an SMS to Kejriwal and offered to quit," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"Kejriwal immediately responded and said the party needs you and asked for some time. Then, Kejriwal asked me to lead the 'jhadu yatra'," Phoolka said. ANI