Here to stay: Rebels nix new party plan but want to reform AAP instead

Gurgaon/New Delhi: The much-anticipated Swaraj Samwad initiated by the ‘rebel’ leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav in Gurgaon came good on the rumour that forming a new party to counter the AAP was not an option right now, but could be a possibility in future if the internal feud within AAP reached its nadir. [caption id=“attachment_2196612” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav addresses the Swaraj Samvad as Prashant Bhushan and other leaders look on in Gurgaon on Tuesday. PTI[/caption] To some extent Swaraj Samwad – the dialogue on democracy — as conceptualized by the senior leaders of AAP – Bhushan, Yadav, Anand Kumar, Ajit Jha and Admiral L Ramdas, who have been ousted from all the top decision-making bodies and posts of AAP, has been successful in achieving its initial goal of show of strength. Besides garnering open support from AAP’s Member of Parliament Dharamvir Gandhi and MLA Pankaj Pushkar, the Swaraj Samwad witnessed unanimous support from hundreds of volunteers including state conveners and candidates who had contested the Lok Sabha election on AAP ticket. Though the undercurrent for the formation of a new party ran strong, the majority, who met today made it clear that instead of leaving AAP and creating a new party, the thrust would be to make the AAP leadership recognize its faults and mend ways. They instead passed a resolution to set up a new group called Swaraj Abhiyan, that they claimed would try to establish the concept of ‘swaraj’ and work towards strengthening ‘alternative politics’. The call on launching a new political party will be taken after six months. “There is no question of quitting the Aam Aadmi Party. I’m here not to be a part of another party but to strengthen our existing party and our political movement through this process of dialogue with our own leaders and volunteers. We can’t let our dream of having an alternative politics – the issue on which we got a historical mandate – go astray,” AAP MLA from Timarpur, Pankaj Pushkar told Firstpost. Asserted Pushkar, a professor of Political Science, “People sacrificed their job, career, family peace everything to be a part of our movement that promised an alternative politics and Swaraj. After formation of the government we at the AAP are responsible to the people. The AAP leadership may now think Swaraj to be an unviable idea, but I say it may be difficult and challenging yet can be achieved. We’re here to ensure it within the party.” Echoing a similar view, former AAP MLA Harish Khanna, who voluntarily stayed away from contesting for the second term, said, “Right now, forming a new party is not an option. We still believe that things can improve within AAP, provided its leadership mends ways. They have to decide whether they would get back to the intellectuals – their strength, with whom they have parted ways, to strengthen the party.” While, thousands gathered at the lawns of Shubh Vatika resort in Gurgaon to listen to the leaders and volunteers, brainstorming sessions in groups simultaneously discussed the future course of action. Forms were given to attendees for referendum on ‘what to be done and what best option could be possible’. Emphasizing on the possibilities of reconciliation, an NRI member from the US, Rakesh Lal said, “Can there be any chance for reconciliation? The present situation is not a split in the party, but a split of emotions. We’re in the process of churning (like Samudra Manthan, sic) and I’m sure something good will emerge rather than having a new party.” “Right now, having a new party is completely ruled out. But, in case a large section of members and volunteers is thrown out of AAP, it would definitely lead to the formation of an organization. We’ve asked Yadav and Bhushan to reach out to people across India, get their views and come back after three months. Maybe, you will have an answer then,” said Sanjeev Sane, AAP’s founder member, who had contested Lok Sabha election from Thane (Maharashtra) constituency. Though, AAP MP from Patiala, Dharamvir Gandhi couldn’t be present on the occasion, his address to volunteers was read out. “This is a challenging time for all of us. We’re accountable to the people of this country, who voted us to power in Delhi by believing on our principle of providing an alternative politics. Now, we have to ensure that AAP should not get deviated from its core principles and ideology. We need to save our party by engaging in the dialogue,” Gandhi’s handout mentioned. Professor of Philosophy in Magadh University, Dinesh Singh, who’s not an AAP member said, “If at all a new party is formed, it should ensure not to follow AAP. It should stick to fundamental principles of the party and not compromise on its ideology to gain votes.”