Shanti Bhushan, AAP's founder member, has criticised Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi:
Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party today confronted a damning assessment by a founder member, Shanti Bhushan, which once again turned the glare on cracks within the party.
Mr Bhushan said Arvind Kejriwal has failed AAP, and should be replaced as its chief. At the same time, he described Mr Kejriwal's rival for next month's Delhi election, the BJP's Kiran Bedi, as a good candidate for chief minister.
"If Kiran Bedi becomes Chief Minister she is likely to provide a good government for Delhi," Mr Bhushan told NDTV, calling the BJP's move to name her its chief ministerial candidate a "master stroke."
The comments have deeply embarrassed AAP in the middle of its campaign for the February 7 polls, pitched by Arvind Kejriwal as an "AAP vs BJP" fight.
"Shanti Bhushan should think about the impact of such statements on party workers. But this shows everyone in the party is free to express their views," Mr Kejriwal said.
Mr Bhushan's son, Prashant Bhushan said, "He's a senior member, can express his opinion, but I do not agree with Shanti ji's assessment. When AAP was being formed, Kiran Bedi had said we should not get into politics. Now if someone like her becomes CM, I don't think it can do any good to the country."
Another leader, Yogendra Yadav, said he was baffled that these questions were being raised at this time.
Mr Bhushan worked with both Kiran Bedi and Mr Kejriwal as part of social crusader Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign in 2011.
In 2012, Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi were both critical when Mr Kejriwal and the Bhushans formed the political outfit.
Last year, the former union law minister had gone public with a stinging critique of Mr Kejriwal after the party's abysmal performance in the national election. He had questioned the AAP chief's organizational skills.
Mr Bhushan said Arvind Kejriwal has failed AAP, and should be replaced as its chief. At the same time, he described Mr Kejriwal's rival for next month's Delhi election, the BJP's Kiran Bedi, as a good candidate for chief minister.
"If Kiran Bedi becomes Chief Minister she is likely to provide a good government for Delhi," Mr Bhushan told NDTV, calling the BJP's move to name her its chief ministerial candidate a "master stroke."
The comments have deeply embarrassed AAP in the middle of its campaign for the February 7 polls, pitched by Arvind Kejriwal as an "AAP vs BJP" fight.
"Shanti Bhushan should think about the impact of such statements on party workers. But this shows everyone in the party is free to express their views," Mr Kejriwal said.
Mr Bhushan's son, Prashant Bhushan said, "He's a senior member, can express his opinion, but I do not agree with Shanti ji's assessment. When AAP was being formed, Kiran Bedi had said we should not get into politics. Now if someone like her becomes CM, I don't think it can do any good to the country."
Another leader, Yogendra Yadav, said he was baffled that these questions were being raised at this time.
Mr Bhushan worked with both Kiran Bedi and Mr Kejriwal as part of social crusader Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign in 2011.
In 2012, Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi were both critical when Mr Kejriwal and the Bhushans formed the political outfit.
Last year, the former union law minister had gone public with a stinging critique of Mr Kejriwal after the party's abysmal performance in the national election. He had questioned the AAP chief's organizational skills.
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