Arvind Kejriwal in Damage Control Mode After Bitter Infighting

New Delhi – With the Aam Aadmi Party mired in bitter infighting, party chief Arvind Kejriwal today attempted to reach out to the dissidents, saying Yogendra Yadav had raised important issues which need to be sorted out. He also said that efforts will be made to bring back Shazia Ilmi into the party.

“Yog Yadav has raised some imp issues. All of us will work on it. Yog yadav is a v dear friend and a v valued colleague. Had long discussion with him…,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, he said, “We will also try to get Shazia back.”

Ms Ilmi and Mr Yadav, known to be a key strategist of the party, have been sharply critical of Mr Kejriwal after the party’s debacle in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Yadav, who had offered to resign from the Political Affairs Committee of the party on June 1, had charged the party with “falling prey to personality cult” while Ms Ilmi had alleged that Mr Kejriwal was surrounded by a coterie and that the party lacked internal democracy.

Mr Kejriwal’s close aide Manish Sisodia had hit back at Mr Yadav accusing him of targeting the AAP chief and making internal matters public.

According to sources, resignations of the leaders will be discussed at the AAP’s national executive meet today and they will also try to convince Ms Ilmi to rejoin the party.

There were indications that the Political Affairs Committee might be expanded to accommodate more members.

The fledgling party had made a stunning debut in the Delhi Assembly polls in December by winning 28 out of 70 seats and even formed a government. But Kejriwal quit as Chief Minister after 49 days on the issue of Janlokpal Bill.

The party fought the Lok Sabha elections but could not win a single seat in the capital following which Mr Kejriwal and his close associates have come under attack.

The AAP leader has also drawn flak after failed attempt to form government again and his initial refusal to submit a bond in a defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, which led to his going to jail.