AAP rift: Yadav may head farmers' wing, Bhushan to look after legal affairs

In a move that is being termed as embarrassing by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) insiders, the “standing offer” to resign from the political affairs committee extended by senior leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan was ‘rejected’ by the national executive but the two leaders were later voted out.

In a move that is being termed as embarrassing by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) insiders, the “standing offer” to resign from the political affairs committee extended by senior leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan was ‘rejected’ by the national executive but the two leaders were later voted out.

Senior-AAP-leaders-Yogendra-Yadav-and-Prashant-Bhushan-speak-to-mediapersons-after-being-ousted-from-the-party-s-political-affairs-committee-in-New-Delhi-on-Wednesday-PTI-Photo

The two will now be given responsibilities that are being seen as insignificant as compared to the positions they held. Both had offered to resign from the PAC but they were instead removed by a vote. The two were seen as luminaries who would show the way forward to the party.

Bhushan has been at the background of all the big exposes that the party has highlighted in the past. “The AAP national executive has stated that Yogendra Yadav and I will no longer remain members of the PAC,” Bhushan said. He was earlier reluctant to come for the meeting but finally decided to come to Delhi from Palampur.

Yadav, who has been striking conciliatory notes for the past two days, also confirmed his ouster. “The national executive meet took certain decisions, which I am not authorised to divulge. Whatever the decision, as a disciplined party worker I shall fulfil the responsibilities given to me,” he added.

According to party insiders, Yadav may be made head of the farmer wing of the party but he is, for all practical purposes, out of the party’s decision-making process. What the function of this farmer’s wing will be and whether it adds any value to the party’s immediate future is something that remains to be seen.

Bhushan’s role, meanwhile, is still not clear. There are chances that the renowned lawyer will be asked to look after the party’s legal affairs, a huge step down from the position he currently holds.

Yadav had been pushing for the party’s expansion to other parts of the country. That plan, it seems, stands suspended for now.