AAP leader Yogendra Yadav.
The AAP today rejected the resignation of senior leader Yogendra Yadav, hours after Arvind Kejriwal reached out to him in an effort to contain the growing dissent within the party.
Mr Yadav had offered to resign from the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) on May 31, expressing unhappiness with the party's style of functioning. "Arvind is turning into a personality cult that can damage an organisation and the leader himself," Mr Yadav had said in an e-mail to AAP leaders, the contents of which later became public. This triggered a stinging letter from his colleague Manish Sisodia, accusing him of targeting Mr Kejriwal and making internal matters public.
(Letter War Breaks out Between Top Leaders of Aam Aadmi Party)"In a democratic party, there is a difference of opinion every now and then," said senior leader Prashant Bhushan after the second day of the party's National Executive meet. The resignation of Naveen Jaihind, who is the convener of the Haryana unit of the party, was also rejected.
"I am happy that all the issues I had drawn the party's attention to have been addressed," Mr Yadav later said.
The change of heart followed a meeting with Mr Kejriwal who reportedly tried to sort out issues raised by him in the email.
"Yog yadav is a v dear friend and a v valued colleague. Had long discussion with him (sic)," the AAP chief later tweeted, adding Mr Yadav has "has raised some imp issues. All of us will work on it." He later also told NDTV that "all differences within the party have been ironed out."
(Read)In another tweet, he also said, "We will also try to get Shazia back."
Shazia Ilmi, one of the most prominent faces of the party, had quit AAP on May 24, arguing that there was "a lack of inner democracy in a party that continuously talks about Swaraj (self-rule)."
(Double Blow to AAP, Shazia Ilmi and Captain Gopinath Quit Party)Mr Kejriwal also told NDTV today that he is considering expanding the PAC and the National Executive and might also include some fresh faces.
The AAP has been wracked with dissensions since its disastrous debut in the Lok Sabha elections, in which it could secure just four seats.