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In a jolt to Aam Aadmi Party, two of its key members Shazia Ilmi and G R Gopinath today quit, citing differences with party leadership and slammed Arvind Kejriwal's "jail politics".
The simmering discontent in the fledgling party since its Lok Sabh poll debacle came to the fore as Ilmi, one of the founder members, announced her resignation from all party posts, claiming that there was lack of "inner-party democracy" and a "crony clique" around Kejriwal was calling the shots.
Gopinath, pioneer of low-cost air travel in India who joined the party in January, targeted Kejriwal saying a head of a party cannot indulge in "shoot and scoot politics" and questioned his refusal to furnish a bail bond in the defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.
Addresing a press conference in Delhi, Ilmi, who lost from Ghaziabad Lok Sabha seat, said, "After much thought and deliberation I have decided to give up my membership of AAP and resign from all positions within the party."
Ilmi, however, clarified that she is not joining any other party.
"My decision to leave the party is triggered by the lack of inner-party democracy, especially from a party that constantly talks of Swaraj (self rule)," she said.
Attacking some AAP leaders who are considered close to Kejriwal, she said, "We fight against cronyism but we have a crony clique which runs the party and takes impulsive decisions which we learn about later. I find it amazing that we cannot follow the principles of Swaraj within our own party."
"When a brilliant person like Arvind who espoused the concept of Swaraj of collective making is unable to follow it personally within the party, then doesn't it become incumbent to point out the same," she added.
In a communication to AAP's Karnataka Convenor Prithvi Reddy, Gopinath said, "I would like to resign from the membership of the Aam Admi Party with immediate effect because of increasing differences with the party leadership and its ways."
When contacted, Gopinath confirmed the development over phone from Toulouse in France.
Gopinath said he wished "the party well in its future endeavours" saying he was great admirer of Anna Hazare and Kejriwal continues to be so.
He, however, termed as mistake Kejriwal's failure to appear in court and his refusal to furnish a bail bond after which he was sent to judical custody till June 6.
Gopinath said it could not be compared to the stand taken by Hazare, who was sent to judicial custody in August 2011 following his arrest during Janlokpal Bill agitation after he refused to sign a personal bond.
Gopinath had founded the first low-cost carrier Air Deccan in 2003, which was taken over by Vijay Mallya and named 'Kingfisher Red' that has now closed down.
In a blog titled 'Has Kejriwal lost his way' today, he criticised the functioning of AAP chief.
"Kejriwal was brazen and broke that rule. He went for the jugular. What was rumoured in whispers, he stood up to in public, which made him the darling of the people and the media.... Kejriwal did not stop there. He made allegations against other high and mighty of the land," the blog said, referring to AAP chief's allegations against Robert Vadra and Gadkari.
"It's one thing to gossip about it in private but when one holds a responsible position as head of a political party, one has to take responsibility and not, as some one described it, indulge in shoot and scoot politics, denigrating people's reputation, however credible the rumours may seem and however tempting the chance to score brownie points or capture media attention and public sympathy as a crusader against corruption," Gopinath said in the blog.
Referring to the defamation case, he said Kejriwal's refusal to furnish a bail bond pleading that he had not committed any crime as his action was political was based on "convoluted logic".
"His actions of naming high profile politicians or businessmen may have a worthy political cause of exposing corruption in government and crony capitalism, but it cannot by any stretch of imagination be equated with political activism," he said.
Gopinath had joined the party in January stating that "Kejriwal's AAP is seen transforming that hope of Anna's fight against corruption into action."
He had, however, openly slammed the decision of the AAP government in Delhi to reject FDI in retail, saying the party is "running in danger" of being branded like other parties of resorting to cheap and populist measures.
The double-blow came as the party was reeling under its failure to win any seat in Delhi in Lok Sabha polls just months after its stunning victory in Assembly elections when it made its electoral debut.
Kejriwal has also come under criticism for resigning as Chief Minister over the Lokpal Bill issue after just 49 days in power, a move which the party admitted had cost it dear prompting the AAP chief to apologise to the people of the city.
