New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he was "deeply hurt and pained" by the open warfare within the AAP as the party braced for a make-or-break leadership meeting Wednesday.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which scored a spectacular electoral win early last month, also announced that Kejriwal was going away to Bengaluru Wednesday for 10 days of naturopathy treatment for his persistent high sugar levels.
"I am deeply hurt and pained by what is going on in the party. This is betrayal of trust that (the people of) Delhi reposed in us," Kejriwal tweeted, adding he won't allow "people's trust to be broken".
"I refuse to be drawn in this ugly battle. Will concentrate only on Delhi's governance," he added.
Less than a month after it stormed to power winning 67 of the 70 seats in Delhi, the AAP is split between senior leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan on the one hand and Kejriwal backers on the other.
Kejriwal's comments appeared to indicate that he was distancing himself from his known supporters in the party who have threatened to act "tough" against Bhushan and Yadav for allegedly challenging Kejriwal's leadership.
Bhushan, an eminent Supreme Court lawyer, and Kejriwal were among those who founded the AAP in 2012 -- and quickly made a mark in Delhi and nationally.
Accompanying Kejriwal's comments, no AAP leader reiterated on Tuesday any of the aggressive statements against Bhushan and Yadav.
On Wednesday, the AAP's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) will meet here to discuss the party's internal strife.
Kejriwal supporters are gunning for both Bhushan and Yadav, particularly the latter. But after Kejriwal's comments and other saner voices, it is not clear what turn the meeting will take Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Prashant Bhushan's father Shanti Bhushan, also a leading lawyer, on Tuesday urged his son, Yadav as well as Kejriwal to "stick together".
"Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav must stick together," he told the media.
"Kejriwal should continue as all-India convenor. Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav must support him.
"That's the best for the party, and such a stand will achieve the goals for which the party was set up. There should be no rift," said Shanti Bhushan, who himself has made critical comments against Kejriwal earlier.
Yadav, a well known election analyst and who has come under intense attack from Kejriwal loyalists, on Tuesday said that he and Prashant Bhushan desired "internal democracy" in the AAP.
"I and Prashant Bhushan had raised voice for internal democracy in the party. There is nothing wrong in that.
"I will see if action happens against me," Yadav added.
In what was viewed as a veiled attack on Kejriwal, Bhushan and Yadav have been quoted as questioning the party's "one person-centric" approach -- in internal communications leaked to the media.
Unlike Yadav, Bhushan on Tuesday refused to speak to the media on what he said were the party's internal affairs -- a stand he has maintained for weeks.
Yadav is being accused by a section of the AAP of trying to oust Kejriwal as its national convenor. AAP leaders appealing for peace deny this.
Amid the unprecedented crisis, AAP leaders had said Monday that when the national executive meets here on Wednesday, they would act "tough" against those challenging the Delhi chief minister.
Meanwhile, the AAP said on Tuesday that Kejriwal would fly to Bengaluru to take 10 days of naturopathy treatment for high sugar levels.
"His (Kejriwal) sugar level is above 300. So he has decided to opt for naturopathy... The treatment will start (Thursday)," an AAP official said.
In Kejriwal's absence, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will officiate as chief minister. Kejriwal, who became chief minister of Delhi a second time last month, has been a long-time diabetic.
Officials in Bengaluru said Kejriwal will reach the city Wednesday evening and will be admitted to the Jindal Naturecure Institute on the outskirts of the city.
The institute, spread over 10 acres of lush greenery, provides relief, prevention and cure of specific diseases through a non-invasive, drugless therapy which combines nature cure with yoga and other drugless regiments, its web site says.
The AAP, born from the anti-corruption campaign of activist Anna Hazare, was founded in 2012 and came to power in Delhi after the very first election it contested in December 2013, albeit with Congress backing.
Kejriwal quit as chief minister on February 14, 2014, leading to President's Rule in Delhi. He took oath exactly a year later after leading the AAP to a thumping victory.
'People wait for us to lose,' a Pakistani fast bowler got angry after the second defeat, spoke ill of his people
Haris Rauf criticized the critics after losing the second T20 match to New Zealand. Pakistani fans criticized the team after continuous poor performance. On this, Haris Rauf said that the youth should
PM Modi: PM Modi started the 'Mera Bharat, Mera Parivar' campaign, and shared video on social media
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started the Mera Bharat, Mera Parivar campaign. The Prime Minister has posted a video on social media, in which the theme song of the campaign has been released.
Another action by Bangladesh after the arrest of the saint, the bank accounts of 16 ISKCON members frozen
According to Bangladesh media reports, on Friday (November 29), Bangladesh authorities ordered the bank accounts of a Hindu leader and 16 members associated with ISKCON to be frozen for 30 days. The
'Where was it said that we will mix it in the soil' BJP gadgad from the encounter of Usman who was involved in Umesh Pal murder case
Another shooter involved in the Umesh Pal murder case was killed by the police in an encounter on Monday morning. It is being told that his name was Vijay alias Usman. It was he who fired the first
Waqf properties will be registered, The Central Government launched the Umeed Portal; Know its benefits
While the issue of seeking an interim stay on the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 is pending in the Supreme Court, the government has taken steps forward under this law. The Central Government launched the
Best smartphone with 108-megapixel camera, price starts at Rs 20,000
If you want to buy a phone that can click great pictures, then one of the best smartphones are being launched in the market these days. In these smartphones, you get a camera of up to 108 megapixels.
Vivo Y21 launched in India with strong battery, know who will compete in terms of price and specifications
Smartphone company Vivo has launched its Y-series smartphone Vivo Y21 in India. This phone comes in a slim design with a 5000mAh battery. It has a 13-megapixel camera. It comes in two color options
Just 3 days before IPL 2024, the Gujarat Titans star created a stir and broke the back of opponents by taking 4 wickets
The countdown for IPL 2024 has started. The 17th season of the Indian Premier League is to start from March 22, before which all the team players have returned to form. The name of Afghanistan's
Did Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman Play the 2026 T20 World Cup Under False Pretenses? Will the PCB Take Action Against Both Batsmen?
The Pakistan squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup included players who were physically unfit. Among them were Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. Although neither batsman was fully fit during the tournament,
Heavy rain alert in 6 states: 14.18 inches of water fell in Bhopal in 36 hours, husband and wife died due to flowing in a drain in Rajasthan
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh have been receiving heavy rains for the last 48 hours. 200 small and big dams have overflowed in Rajasthan and about 50 in
