New Delhi

Senior AAP leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, who were on a collision course with party Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, were today dropped from the Political Affairs Committee of the party, bringing out in the open internal power struggle.

In a show-down in the party’s 21-member National Executive (NE), supporters of Kejriwal voted out Yadav and Bhushan by 11 to eight votes. Kejriwal and Habung Payeng, hailing from Arunachal pradesh, were not present at the meet.

Yadav and Bhushan’s ouster from PAC came days after the duo had raised red flag against continuation of Kejriwal as National Convener as also questioned his working style, evoking a sharp reaction from Kejriwal supporters who accused Bhushan and his father Shanti Bhushan of wanting to have a “vice-like grip” on all party wings.

Sources said the meeting, which lasted over six hours, saw heated discussions. While Yadav’s role for leaking information by a section of the party came under scanner, Prashant and his father’s recent statements were also discussed.

The proposal to boot Yadav and Prashant out of PAC was then introduced by Deputy chief minister and Kejriwal’s close confidant Manish Sisodia. The duo was asked to step down, but they both demanded a vote. With Kejriwal camp getting 11 votes, Bhushan and Yadav got 8 votes.

However, Kumar Vishwas, who chaired the NE meeting did not vote saying he will only cast his vote in an event of a tie.

The sources said there was also no immediate proposal of introducing two more members in the party’s decision-making body. There was also no clarity on what role Bhushan and Yadav will have after their ouster from the PAC.

“The PAC will continue with remaining members as of now.

There has been no decision on expanding the PAC and it will complete its full term,” said a party leader.

The two leaders left the stormy session after the decision of the Executive. While Yadav maintained that he would continue working as dedicated worker of the party, Bhushan left saying that the majority decision will prevail.

The NE also rejected Kejriwal’s offer to resign as National Convenor and asked him to continue in this post.

Later announcing the decisions of NE, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said Yadav and Bhushan will be given new roles.

“The party has decided to relieve them from the responsibility as members of the PAC. They will be assigned new role and responsibility,” Vishwas said.

He said “personal opinions and personal differences” will not come in the way of the unity of the party, which will deliver on its promises and will not betray the trust of the people.

Many party supporters gathered at the Calista Party Lawns, where the meeting was held, demanding reconciliation between the two camps. “We want a united AAP,” said volunteers, holding placards and photos of Kejriwal, Prashant and Yadav.

Ahead of the meet, Yadav said the question of Kejriwal staying as National Convener has never been an issue while Bhushan had said that he was “firm on ethics”.

Both leaders have, in the past few days, alleged that the three-year-old party has strayed from the core ideals of ‘swaraj’ (self-governance) and transparency that set it apart.

Speaking to reporters after his removal, Yadav said, the party was created with “blood and sweat” of thousands of supporters whose trust should not be betrayed. “I am not here to break the party,” he said.

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