New Delhi: The internal rift within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over senior party leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan's staunch criticism of party chief Arvind Kejriwal's approach has widened. Ahead of the party's National Executive meeting on March 4, during which tough action against the duo could be taken, the close aides of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have released a recorded conversation with a journalist who had written a critical piece on party's affairs and held an informal breakfast meeting with senior leader Yogendra Yadav.

Here are the Live Updates:

According to ANI, Arvind Kejriwal will not attend National Executive meeting tomorrow.

When asked about the rift within the party, AAP leader Prashant Bhushan evaded the questions.

\Rajneeti mai matbhed hona aam baat hai, par yeh matbhed, manbhed mai nahi badalna chahiye (It's common to have differences in opinion in politics, but it should not affect the relations), Yogendra Yadav told ANI.

Had sought more democracy in AAP, says Yogendra Yadav

Most probably attend the AAP National Executive, Prashant Bhushan tells ANI

It’s unfortunate, says Kiran Bedi on AAP’s internal conflict

It’s not coming as a surprise to me, issue was when does it happen, and how it happens: Kiran Bedi

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia to be acting Delhi CM in Kejriwal's absence: Reports

Amid reports of rift within party, Kejriwal to go on 10-day leave for naturopathy

All decisions will be taken at the National Executive meeting tomorrow, says Sanjay Singh (AAP)

Both Prashant & Yogendra have worked with absolute commitment: Shazia Ilmi

The new members have been brought in as props to keep Arvind Kejriwal's cult alive: Shazia Ilmi

AAP's Ashish Khetan accuses party patron Shanti Bhushan, his son and daughter of trying to control party

Those who are floating the ridiculous one man party theory wanted to make AAP one family party. — Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) March 3, 2015 Father son daughter trio of Shanti Prashant & Shalini wanted to have a vice-like grip on all party wings, from PAC to policy committee to NE — Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) March 3, 2015

Everyone worked against me, party would have suffered that is why I didn't speak: HS Phoolka :

Yogendra Yadav formed campaign committee for Punjab: HS Phoolka

I wanted to quit but Arvind asked me not to, he also asked for some time: HS Phoolka

The 2-3 persons who want to dictate their terms to the National Executive they are dictators not Kejriwal, claims HS Phoolka

Did it not tarnish the image of party, asks Ashutosh

Shanti Bhushan ji should also explain what was the conspiracy to replace Arvind with Yogendra: Ashutosh

Kejriwal, Prashant & Yogendra should speak together for betterment of AAP: Shanti Bhushan

Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan should support Kejriwal: Shanti Bhushan

Arvind Kejriwal should continue as All India Convener of AAP: Shanti Bhushan.

Every AAP leader has equal set of responsibilities, duties and powers: Lamba

No high command culture in AAP:Alka Lamba, AAP

Ye AAP party nhi hai, giroh hai, safalata ke baad maal ke bantwaare ko lekar kalah shuru ho gya hai: Jagdambika Pal (BJP)

AAP's fight is that nothing is transparent in the party, but in the BJP everything is there to see: Manoj Tiwari

He should have expressed his views in party forum: Ashutosh

He could have put forth his complaints in National Executive meeting tomorrow: Ashutosh

Prashant ji is a respected member of AAP, but I feel he shouldn't have made such statements in public: Ashutosh

Will concentrate only on Delhi's governance, tweets Kejriwal.

This is betrayal of trust that Delhi posed in us. I refuse to be drawn in this ugly battle: Kejriwal

I refuse to be drawn in this ugly battle.Will concentrate only on Delhi's governance.जनता के भरोसे को किसी भी हालत में टूटने नहीं दूंगा(2/2) — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 3, 2015

"I am deeply hurt and pained by what is going on in the party, tweets Kejriwal

I am deeply hurt and pained by what is going on in the party. This is betrayal of trust that Delhi posed in us(1/2) — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 3, 2015

Have prior engagements: Prashant Bhushan

I will not attend tomorrow's National Executive meet: Prashant Bhushan

AAP not declaring party expenses in public domain: Prashant Bhushan

Need people who can stand up to Kejriwal and differ with him: Prashant Bhushan

Arvind used to getting his way, thinks his decision must always prevail: Prashant Bhushan

I respect Arvind's political judgments. But sometimes he could be wrong too: Prashant Bhushan

I have some very serious disagreements with how AAP is functioning: Prashant Bhushan

Story so far

Media reports on Tuesday claimed that the conversation between Yadav and the journalist was recorded without her knowledge. The Kejriwal camp is also alleging that Yadav – a very senior AAP leader - gave critical information about party's strategy and decisions regarding polls to the journalist during the meeting.

The conversation, which was supposed to be off the record, is now being used to build a solid case against Yogendra Yadav in the ongoing feud within the party.

AAP's Delhi Secretary Dilip Pandey had earlier made serious allegations against Yadav and written a letter to the disciplinary committee alleging anti-party activities by the latter.

This recording of the conversation between the journalist and Yadav was also discussed during the heated National Executive meeting on February 26 and also finds mention in Dilip Pandey's letter to the Disciplinary Committee.

Crisis in the party intensified after noted advocate and one of the founding members of AAP, Prashant Bhushan, in a letter to the National Executive last week, said that the "one person-centric" campaign was making the party look like other parties and called for more "swaraj" within the organisation.

Along with Yadav, he also gave a joint letter to the National Executive and demanded activation of an ethics and grievance committee. Yadav added that although electoral politics requires a face, the party should make a conscious effort not to fall prey to personality cult.

"Within the organisation you have to ensure that we do not fall prey to personality cult. These are the things which we have to constantly struggle. It's not a special case that AAP has to struggle with. Its a real question of democratic procedure. I am happy that AAP is at least struggling with these questions and there are no easy answers," Yadav said.

He added that in a joint note to NE members in meeting last week, they had spelt out things which required immediate action and certain things which required long term action. "We need an ethics committee which would ensure that whenever ethical questions come up we don't look like any other party. We have set high bars for ourselves."

"Autonomy for state units and the third question was strengthening internal democracy procedures. These are constructive suggestions no one would disagree with. Even Lokpal has raised similar questions and we need to raise similar questions in the Indian politics," Yadav said.

Peeved at its senior leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan's criticism of AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal's approach, the party has called a meeting of its National Executive on March 4 during which tough action against the duo could be taken.

AAP sources, however, claim that the party won't ask them to leave but if they chose to do so, they won't be stopped.

Yogendra Yadav, who is in the middle of a rift within the AAP, has said that he will be a part of the party as long as it continues to work for the people and nurture their hopes, while Prashant Bhushan has called for postponing the National Executive meeting scheduled on March 4.