Now, Bhagwant Mann wants Yadav, Bhushan out of AAP

Sangrur, The crisis in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is far from over as Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has now demanded expulsion of senior leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from the party.

Both Yadav and Bhushan were removed from the political affairs committee (PAC) of the party recently.

“The individuals cannot be bigger than the party. Since we have evidence that Bhushan and Yadav worked against the interests of the party, especially during the run-up to the Delhi assembly polls, there is no point in keeping them in the party. What is the guarantee that they won’t conspire against the party in future,” Mann told HT over phone from Delhi.

Patiala MP Dharamvir Gandhi advocates the case of Bhushan and Yadav and says the past should be forgotten. He says the trio — Bhushan, Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal — should stay and work together for the betterment of the party.

“Kejriwal as the main architect and Bhushan and Yadav as co-pillars are the heart and soul of the party. Their joint leadership is must for AAP’s future. Any statement by a leader or a volunteer which harms the party should be avoided. It will only deepen the crisis,” Gandhi posted on his facebook wall.

Sensing trouble, party’s Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur has appealed to AAP leaders in the state to refrain from making public statements which may further dent the party.

“This is the time when we should focus on building the party in Punjab to gear up for the 2017 assembly elections. Our fight should be against the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance. It was a Delhi issue (Bhushan and Yadav) and should not be dragged into Punjab politics,” Chhotepur said.

Senior advocate and AAP leader HS Phoolka, who recently charged Yadav with scuttling his political rallies in Punjab during the Lok Sabha polls, refrained from commenting on the divisions within the Punjab unit.