New Delhi: Since the exit of founding members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, the space for dissent seemingly shrunk in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Arvind Kejriwal, with iron-clad grip over both the party and the government, has become the AAP's undisputed leader. When there was no solution in sight during the rift with Yadav and Bhushan, Kejriwal refused to bend and the two were shown the door. But this month, another founding member challenged Kejriwal's hegemony over the party.
Following a string of losses in Punjab, Goa and Delhi, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said the party needed to learn from its mistakes. A few days later, he even hinted at his possible exit from the AAP. Instead of cracking down, Arvind Kejriwal handed an olive branch to Kumar Vishwas.
After reports emerged of a rift between the two, Kejriwal took to Twitter to write, "Kumar is my younger brother. Some people are trying to create a rift between us. Such people are enemies of the party. They better mend their ways. No one can separate us."
According to sources, a public confrontation was inevitable. Kejriwal and Vishwas, a source said, had not been on talking terms for the last 5 months. Known to be an emotional leader, Vishwas was unhappy at being pushed out of the party boss's inner circle. But it would not take a lot to pacify Vishwas.
"This image of Vishwas as someone who has been scheming and plotting to take over Kejriwal's throne is incorrect. Even Arvind knows this. He is an emotional poet who was acting out and throwing a tantrum. If he was plotting, Vishwas would not settle for anything less than National Convener. He agreed to come back after just getting the post of Rajasthan state-in-charge," the source said, adding, "You need to understand that Kumar has a massive ego. Kumar is in love with Kumar. The fact that the National Convener came to his house to apologize must have been enough to pacify him."Does AAP need a 'nationalist' face?
In April, Kumar Vishwas released a video on his official YouTube channel in which he spoke on nationalism and chided all those who follow cults of personality. He mentioned PM Narendra Modi, Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi by name. During an emotional address to the press on Tuesday, Vishwas claimed that he was being asked to apologize for the video.
Over the last four years, Vishwas has positioned himself as a non-BJP champion of "nationalist" causes. His positions have often given rise to speculation that he was flirting with the BJP. Sources said that Vishwas placed three conditions before the PAC meeting on Tuesday. One of the conditions was "no compromise on nationalism". The party is reportedly keen on wresting the "nationalism" narrative from the BJP.'Arvind hasn't changed, the situation has'
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