Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania

The sudden outburst of AAP leader Anjali Damania, so far known as an Arvind Kejriwal loyalist, has perplexed party volunteers, for it adds an unexpected twist to long-drawn factionalism within the party in Maharashtra.

Damania’s resignation was a repeat of the chain of events in the aftermath of the party’s Lok Sabha debacle when the party failed to win a single seat and polled only 2.2 per cent in the state. Damania, then state convener, had resigned citing personal reasons, only to later retract and say she was just stepping down as convener. She was replaced by Subhash Ware, a decision senior party members attribute to negative feedback received by Mission Vistaar observers Atishi Marlena and Prithvi Reddy on the then leadership and the need to have a leader with a mass base.

The recent sidelining of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan has laid bare the fault-lines in Maharashtra too. Mayank Jain, AAP’s Mumbai secretary, said the donations received by the party have taken a hit since the meeting where the two were voted out of the PAC. “Many volunteers in Maharashtra are unhappy as they feel that Yadav and Bhushan were treated in an unreasonable manner,” he said.

Of Maharashtra’s two members in the national executive committee, Ware voted for Yadav and Bhushan staying on, while Mayank refrained from voting.

Speaking in support of Kejriwal, Damania had lashed out against Mayank for criticising him openly, against Yadav for anti-party leaks and his silence about Ware occupying twin posts: Maharashtra convenor and national executive member.

Ware, however, denied there are any factions in AAP Maharashtra. “The party recognises Kejriwal is our leader and both Yadav and Bhushan have made important contributions. Anjali’s reaction against me and Mayank as well as to the sting tapes were just extempore,” he said.

In reply to a tweet, Damania wrote on Wednesday, “I hate these coteries & camps. But trust me there is an underlying truth. Pray it will come out soon enough.” Her party colleague Preeti Sharma Menon, however, said, “Anjali is under a lot of strain due to this ongoing conflict in party. She tends to react emotionally. She will withdraw her resignation soon.”

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