Yogendra Yadav is a dear friend and a valued colleague, say Arvind Kejriwal
With the Aam Aadmi Party mired in bitter infighting, its chief Arvind Kejriwal today got into damage control mode and attempted to reach out to the leaders who have voiced unhappiness over the party's way of functioning.
Ahead of the second day of his party's National Executive meeting this morning, he met party colleague Yogendra Yadav at his residence, reportedly to sort out issues raised by him in an email sent to AAP leaders.
Soon after the meeting, he tweeted, "Yogendra Yadav is a very dear friend and a very valued colleague. Had long discussion with him." The AAP chief added that Mr Yadav "raised some important issues. All of us will work on it." He later also told NDTV that "all differences within the party have been ironed out."
In another tweet today, he said, "We will also try to get Shazia back."
Ms 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)."
Mr Yadav, who had offered to resign from the Political Affairs Committee of the party on June 1, has claimed that the party is "falling prey to personality cult."
On June 4, Manish Sisodia, a founder member of the AAP, shot off a letter to Mr Yadav, accusing him of targeting Mr Kejriwal and making internal matters public.
In the letter, he contended, "Your broad allegations are Arvind (Kejriwal) does not listen to the suggestions of the PAC (Political Affairs Committee). I am surprised reading your email because till the time Arvind agreed with you, he was democratic."
The Aam Aadmi Party has been wracked with dissensions since its disastrous debut in the Lok Sabha elections, in which it could secure just four seats. But it has been trying to present a picture of unity.
Mr Kejriwal also told NDTV today that he is considering expanding the PAC and the National Executive and might also include some fresh faces.