The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seems to be staring at a huge crisis as another trusted aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – Ashish Khetan – has decided to part ways with the party.
Khetan posted a couple of tweets to say he is concentrating on his career as a lawyer but refused to comment on his association with the AAP. Reports said Khetan had resigned from AAP along with Ashutosh on August 15.Khetan had resigned from as the vice-chairman of the Delhi governments advisory body in April.
“I am completely focussed on my legal practice and not involved in active politics at the moment. Rest is all extrapolation,” Khetan said. “I had resigned from DDC in April, to join the legal profession. That is all. Not interested in rumours,” he added.
https://twitter.com/AashishKhetan/status/1032203814760341504/photo/1
Khetan, a journalist-turned-politician was once considered to be close to Kejriwal, was appointed the vice-chairman of the Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) three years ago. The DDC is headed by the chief minister.
Another disgruntled AAP leader Kumar Vishwas posted a cryptic tweet over Khetan’s exit from party.“Hum to “Chandra Gupta” banane nikle they humein kya pata “Chanda Gupta” ban jaega,” Vishwas tweeted in an apparent dig at Kerjiwal over his decision to nominate businessman Sushil Gupta and chartered accountant Narain Dass Gupta for the Rajya Sabha.
Khetan’s resignation comes days after another journalist-turned-politician Ashutosh quit the Aam Aadmi Party citing personal issues. Ashutosh had been reportedly upset with the party administration after being denied a Rajya Sabha ticket.
Several founding leaders of the AAP have either left the party or sacked since its inception in 2012. Leaders like Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan who were part of the 2011 anti-corruption crusade headed by Anna Hazare which led to formation of the Aam Aadmi Party were unceremoniously removed in 2015 for “anti-party activities”.