Discontent smoulders in AAP

Dissidence and discontent is rife within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over selection of candidates and ticket distribution. At least one founding member has quit the party for not being fielded while other senior leaders are said to be unhappy with the way candidates are being chosen. The party, however, brushed aside the dissidence, saying the rush for tickets is a good sign.

AAP founding member and lawyer Ashok Agrawal quit the party last week after he failed to get a ticket. While quitting, Agrawal said that the party was 'directionless' and functioning like a private company.

AAP leader and Amethi candidate Kumar Vishwas too is said to be upset about "outsiders and non-deserving" candidates being fielded in Uttar Pradesh. AAP leadership has also received flak for fielding activist Subhash Ware from Pune, Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Rajmohan Gandhi from east Delhi, TV anchor Ashutosh from Chandni Chowk (Delhi) constituency — all high-profile people who have recently joined the party.

Volunteers have accused the party of ignoring local volunteers, who have been with the party for long, and instead promoting "outsiders" or high-profile candidates. The latest case is that of AAP candidate from Chandigarh Savita Bhatti, who was replaced on Thursday by actor-activist Gul Panag. Bhatti, wife of late comedian Jaspal Bhatti, returned her ticket when she failed to get support from local volunteers in Chandigarh.

Such intense competition for AAP tickets is a good sign for the party as it shows the real intention of people, said a senior AAP leader on condition of anonymity. "In some cases, where people came to the party leadership, problems regarding tickets were solved. But what can we do if someone directly goes out and is not ready to discuss issues," this person said.

While AAP is trying to put up a brave face in the face of bickering, its dissidents increasingly point at what they call AAP's double standard in selecting candidates. The party had held primaries while choosing candidates for the Delhi assembly elections.

However, since the party was aware that it did not have the time to hold internal elections for candidates for the Lok Sabha election, it had announced that it would recall candidates if wrongdoing is proved against them.