New Delhi: Dissent within Aam Aadmi Party came to the fore as the party's foot-soldiers questioned the leadership over the debacle in the Lok Sabha election and demanded dissolution of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), even as party leaders tried to pacify them.
At a meeting organised to discuss future course of action for the party after its convener Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody was extended, many volunteers sought answers about the functioning within the party. Some volunteers were seen holding placards with messages "Who will own the responsibility of defeat (in the Lok Sabha elections)?" and "PAC should be dissolved" at the meeting.
In a bid to pacify them, party leaders asked the cadre to write their queries and grievances on a paper, which many did even as a few grumbled. "This system does not work as party hardly gets back on these questions," an AAP volunteer said.
Party leaders, however, admitted there was a lack of communication with the party volunteers, but tried to rejuvenate them with encouraging talks. "There has been a lack of communication in the party because of the limited resources," party Delhi unit secretary and AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey told volunteers.
"We admit that we have faults and we have to build the organisation. We have to improve the system," party leader and Political Affairs Committee (PAC) member Gopal Rai said. "Congress is more than 125 years old and we are just one and half years old. Still we have done good," he said.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal explained to his supporters the circumstances behind him being in jail even as his party launched a mass contact programme over the issue to strengthen its support base with an eye on Assembly elections in Delhi. "I took on former BJP president Nitin Gadkari and exposed him, but he is roaming scot-free and I have been put in jail. They asked me to take bail, but what crime have I committed to take bail?" Kejriwal said in a letter, which was signed "Prisoner No.3642, Jail No.4 Tihar."
"There have been several defamation cases against me, but no one has ever asked me to seek bail because I am not a criminal. In this case, I thought I will get relief, but instead of giving me bail, the court has sent me to jail. Now that I am in Tihar Jail, the question comes to my mind as to how a common man will fight corruption," the letter stated.
Kejriwal added that in the fight against corruption, he has braved hunger, police's batons and insult and, now, Tihar (prison). "Now you are my only strength. Please pray for me," he said in the letter.
The party has decided to hold 'sankalp sabhas' to explain Kejriwal's stand to the people and distribute his letter across the city. "We have to send this letter to every household because the media is presenting the facts in a wrong manner."
Volunteers across the 70 Assembly segments should gather and spread this message through 'sankalp sabhas' in every ward. We will not stay quiet till our leader is out of jail," said AAP leader Gopal Rai.
The meetings will also kickstart AAP's "person-to-person" campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections. "From tomorrow, we will start the work of party organisation at the booth level and then ward level. Every Assembly seat will have an observer who will act as a facilitator between the party and volunteers," said AAP's Delhi unit secretary and spokesperson Dilip Pandey.
Party leader Kumar Vishwas, who took on Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, sent out an emotional appeal to the volunteers. "Your leader (Kejriwal) has always led from the front and we need to show our general how the battle is fought for him in his absence," he said.
AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said that the difference between the vote share of BJP and AAP in Lok Sabha elections was 14 per cent and a seven per cent swing could help the party. Yadav said that a section of the people believes in the concept of "Modi for PM and Kejriwal for CM" and would still vote for AAP.
The section which is unhappy with AAP's resignation could be pacified as the party has already apologised, he added.
He also said that AAP could corner the vote share of the Congress as it is expected to reduce further.
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