'Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan should depart gracefully from AAP'

Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas on Friday called on senior party leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav to leave the party 'gracefully' if nothing was working out.

"If nothing is working then you (Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav) should depart gracefully," he told ANI.

Vishwas added that there were some forces behind the rift in the party, which is showing no signs of abating yet. "Personal jealousy and frustration is there. But there are also some forces for the rift within the AAP," he said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shazia Ilmi, who was earlier with AAP, said that it was "unfortunate" that excuses were being made and the impression given that Yadav and Bhushan were against the party.

Kumar Vishwas had earlier accused Yadav of being “two-faced”, claiming the latter's statements would vary depending on his audience, with different remarks made before the party and the media. He also linked the calls for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's removal from the post of the AAP's national convener after Prashant Bhushan raised his objections.

Yadav, however, rubbished Vishwas' allegations, asking the latter to furnish proof for his “ridiculous claims” that he, along with Prashant Bhushan, insisted on Kejriwal's removal.

Kejriwal is also believed to be adamant about ensuring the removal of Bhushan and Yadav from his party's national executive. The AAP's 320-member national council meeting will be held on Saturday.

Image: Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas