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Bringing division within the party to the fore, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) founder member and former law minister Shanti Bhushan on Wednesday critised party convener Arvind Kejriwal for his lack of organisational skills.
"He (Kejriwal) is a great leader, a great campaigner but in my opinion he lacks the ability to organise party affairs," Bhushan said in an interview to a private channel on Wednesday. "AAP under him has failed to expand across India."
Bhushan also said Kejriwal should consult other party leaders on important issues, and should give the work of building the party organisation to somebody else, and instead focus on being the party's face and its main campaigner.
"He doesn't have competence which can spread the message of the party all across India and quickly create elected structures," Bhushan said. He, however, added that Kejriwal should remain the chief campaigner and face of the party but should not focus on re-organising it.
This coincided with the day when the party began its signature campaign in Delhi demanding fresh elections in the state. The party dismissed Bhushan's opinion and said that his opinions are 'misplaced'. The party further said in a formal statement that Bhushan is unhappy with party's decision of not contesting the Haryana Assembly elections to be held later this year.
"The party does not agree with the comments made by Mr Shanti Bhushan. Mr Bhushan is apparently unhappy at the party's decision of not contesting the upcoming Haryana assembly elections. He had his own views on the issue, but the party's National Executive and the Political Affairs Committee decided against contesting Haryana elections," the party said in a statement.
Since the Lok Sabha elections, the party has suffered quite a few blows with senior leaders questioning Kejriwal's style of functioning. Former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi had resigned in May saying that there is no internal democracy within the party.
"This is the reason I had resigned from the party. There is indeed a lack of party democracy and voice of dissent and constructive criticism is not appreciated," Ilmi told a private news channel.
Another party leader Yogendra Yadav had earlier critiqued Kejriwal's style of functioning. He is also said to be upset for the party's refusal to contest the Haryana assembly elections, scheduled for later this year.
Yadav had offered resignations from top party posts following a rift with other party members over AAP's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana. However, the party's top decision making body political affairs committee (PAC) had managed to convince Yadav to stay.
