In AAP's Truce Efforts, a Midnight Meeting and an SMS From Arvind Kejriwal

Prashant Bhushan said this morning that Mr Kejriwal, who is chief minister of Delhi, has sent him a text message saying, "busy with vote-on-account will meet someday in the days to come," in response to his request for a meeting with him.

Arvind Kejriwal was on a flight back to Delhi when Prashant Bhushan had struck a conciliatory note, saying he had sent a message to the AAP chief. "I want to meet Arvind and end the controversy; will want to talk to him one-on-one when he reaches Delhi," he said.

Soon after landing in Delhi on Monday evening, Mr Kejriwal met senior AAP leaders and expressed displeasure at public statements made by both sides in his absence, sources said.

Mr Kejriwal reportedly said that airing differences in public will affect the morale of AAP volunteers, universally acknowledged as the backbone of the party. He wants both sides to talk things out now, sources said.

The talks between Yogendra Yadav and AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Kumar Vishwas, Ashish Khetan and Ashutosh, continued till about 3 am and were described by sources close to Mr Yadav as "positive". They said efforts for reconciliation will continue.

"As you know some of my party friends came home... We talked... when our talks will complete, then will tell you," Mr Yadav said after the midnight meeting. Kumar Vishwas said, "We are all members of the same family and we are talking to each other, you will be informed when a decision is reached."

Mr Bhushan and Mr Yadav earned the party's ire by questioning what they called unilateral decisions taken by Mr Kejriwal. They were sacked from the Political Affairs Committee or PAC of the Aam Aadmi Party earlier this month for "anti-party activities."

There was much speculation that Mr Bhushan and Mr Yadav would be sacked from the party at a meeting on the 28th of March. A party lawmaker ran a signature campaign seeking their removal from AAP; it was reportedly signed by most of its 67 MLAs in Delhi.

While the AAP chief was away getting naturopathy treatment for acute cough and diabetes, AAP leaders issued a public statement alleging that Mr Yadav and Mr Bhushan indulged in "anti-party activities" like attempting to ensure that the party lost the Delhi elections and trying to malign Mr Kejriwal's image.

Mr Bhushan and Mr Yadav countered those allegations in an open letter addressed to AAP volunteers and said they hoped to work for party unity. The two leaders also questioned what they called 'unilateral decisions' made by Mr Kejriwal.