AAP MLA starts signature campaign to oust Bhushans, Yadav

New Delhi: Amidst the internal turmoil in AAP, a party MLA has started a signature campaign seeking the expulsion of the father-son duo of Shanti and Prashant Bhushan along with Yogendra Yadav from its ranks.

The campaign is being undertaken by Kapil Mishra, the AAP MLA from Karawal Nagar, who said he has so far got a positive “response” from fellow party MLAs.

“I will give this petition, with the support of our MLAs, to Arvind (Kejriwal)ji once he comes back. I have spoken to all our MLAs and they have agreed to sign the petition,” said Mr. Mishra, who also called for “exemplary action” against those found to be involved in anti-party activities.

Mr. Kejriwal is in Bangalore for naturopathy treatment.

Sources said that the Kejriwal camp was preparing ground for launching an all out attack on the Bhushans and Mr. Yadav ahead of the AAP national council meeting later this month.

The move comes after the AAP brass launched a blistering attack on the Bhushans and Mr. Yadav on Tuesday, accusing them of working to ensure the party’s defeat in the recent Delhi Assembly polls and maligning its image.

Incidentally, the petition is also a replica of the charges levelled by AAP leaders on Tuesday.

“During the Assembly polls, the party was fighting war on two fronts. On one side, we were fighting a war with outside forces (the Congress and the BJP) and on the other side, we were fighting with our own people.

“These people (the Bhushans and Mr. Yadav), tried to sabotage the party’s prospects by asking volunteers not to come to Delhi for campaigning and also stopping the funds of the party,” charged Mr. Mishra.

“They tried to malign the image of our party and our leadership,” he added.

Mr. Prashant Bhushan and Mr. Yadav were voted out from the AAP’s political affairs committee last week in the wake of allegations by its members that they wanted to remove Mr. Kejriwal from the post of party convener.