Anna: Kejriwal wanted to be PM, so quit Delhi

New Delhi, April 12: Just hours after

's confession that his resignation as the New Delhi chief minister is a poorly contrived strategy,

hit out at Kejriwal saying that he had greater amibitions behind resigning from the position.

"I had said so at the time that he resigned -- this was a mistake. Uska kaaran yeh hai ki pant-pradhan dimaag mein baith gaya. (The reason for that is that the idea of prime ministership had occupied his mind.) That led him to field candidates across the country," Hazare said.

He further added that he had advised Kejriwal not to take such a step but the latter was "seized" by the idea of becoming the Prime Minister. Hazare had also asked Kejriwal to make a mark in Delhi politics and then try for the national polls. "I had said make Delhi a model. If Delhi becomes a model, then in the next general election the country would have been in the hands of AAP."

The activist also believes that social workers joining AAP could impact the voting structure. He named Medha Patkar and Rajju Shetti (of the Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghatana, a long-time agitator for the rights of farm labourers and sitting MP contesting this time as an ally of the Shiv Sena-BJP in Hatkanangle in western Maharashtra) as members of AAP and said that they would provide a major chunk of voters.

Hazare said,"Not the party, the individual may have some impact. The constituency where Medha is contesting from, the AAP never ever went there. But Medha has worked there, struggled for the people there. And that's why people will support her there. THere may be just 3 or 4 such people in the party."

On asking his views regarding the repeated attacks on Arvind Kejriwal, Hazare said it is really unfortunate and may indicate loss of faith among common citizens in the AAP leader. However, giving the party a benefit of doubt, Hazare said,"You have to still see whether the attacks are planned by some opposition party."

OneIndia News