AAP in Turmoil: Sisodia Jailed, Maliwal Alleges Assault by Party Aide

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and Punjab is facing a major political crisis. Manish Sisodia, the party's second-in-command, has been in Tihar Jail for months. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was released from jail but is scheduled to return soon.

Kejriwal was out on Supreme Court's mercy to campaign for elections. An incident involving Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the Chief Minister's residence led to a crisis. Bibhav Kumar, a close aide to the CM, is accused of assaulting and abusing a female MP.

Swati Maliwal was the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women before joining Rajya Sabha. She was vocal on women's issues and often clashed with Delhi Police. Her image became more of a party leader than a commission chairperson.

Even today, Maliwal is officially a member of AAP. She once led strong fronts against Delhi Police in cases of women's atrocities. Now, she looks to Delhi Police for justice on her own allegations. According to her, she feels isolated by her party.

Maliwal posted on May 19 about her crisis. She wrote, "We used to fight for Nirbhaya's justice. Now we are saving an accused who deleted CCTV footage and formatted the phone? If Manish Sisodia were here, this wouldn't have happened to me!"

On May 21, the Delhi High Court refused bail to Sisodia in the same case. Kejriwal, after being released on bail, seeks votes for India Block and supports accused Bibhav Kumar in the Maliwal case.

Maliwal's claim suggests that the party hasn't fully supported Sisodia in his crisis. Sisodia's wife Seema has been ill for a long time. When Kejriwal went to jail, Delhi Minister Atishi claimed that Seema said she would leave Manish if he left Arvind's side.

Maliwal and Atishi's claims seem contradictory. On Wednesday, Maliwal made another post on ex. She wrote that there is pressure on party leaders to spread dirty things against her.

She wrote, 'Yesterday a big party leader called me. He said there's pressure on everyone to speak dirty things against Swati and leak her personal photos. Whoever supports her will be expelled from the party.'

In the same post, she added, 'I have no grudge against anyone; the accused is powerful. Even the biggest leader fears him. No one dares to stand against him. I don't expect it from anyone either.'

She felt sad that the Delhi Women's Minister is defaming an old woman companion of the party while smiling.