Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hosts dinner for AAP MLAs and kin to foster unity
AAP crisis: Kumar Vishwas skips dinner hosted by Arvind Kejriwal for party MLAs to foster unity
Amid the ongoing turbulence within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Chief Minister and party head Arvind Kejriwal is trying his best to bring about unity. After being accused of losing touch with the grassroots recently, Kejriwal made an effort to make himself more accessible and hosted a dinner for AAP MLAs and their families at his residence in the Civil Lines area on Sunday.
The legislators who attended the gathering called it a "casual family gathering", even as the recent crisis triggered by rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra remained the major talking point there.
"All of us assured Kejriwalji that we are there with him at this time of crisis when our own party member is shamelessly levelling serious allegations against us on the behest of the BJP," AAP's Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba said.
Lamba, who also tweeted a video of the gathering, including Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and party's Delhi Chief Gopal Rai, among other MLAs, said: "The family members of legislators also promised the leadership that they won't let the MLAs leave AAP."
"The dinner was for AAP MLAs and their families. Everyone missed KV (Kumar Vishwas), SS (Sanjay Singh), RC (Raghav Chadha), DP (Dilip Pandey)," MLA Alka Lamba said in a tweet.
Nearly 50 lawmakers had attended the gathering along with their families. "We vowed to stand with Kejriwal at this time when the Opposition is trying hard to break the unity of AAP," another party MLA said.
According to party sources, the leadership tried hard to convince the lawmakers to maintain unity. "The inaccessibility of the party leadership has forced members to convey their issues through media. So, Kejriwal is doing his best to bring about unity within the party," a senior party leader said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had held a one-on-one interaction with his partymen to "bridge the gap", where he advised them to let go of the "common man" look and behave like "MLAs", in order to get recognised in their respective localities.
Analysis
Kejriwal's tries to rework his image as an "accessible" leader. The party members also fear that sacked MLA Kapil Mishra's corruption allegations against Kejriwal will create further unrest.
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