Maharashtra AAP workers disappointed with Kejriwal

Mumbai, Jan 21: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders across Maharastra today expressed displeasure over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not meeting them while he was on a visit to the city yesterday.

Kejriwal had appeared before a local court in connection with a case for allegedly holding a rally without required permission during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He had left shortly after the hearing. Local Aam Aadmi Party leaders said its chief has "no vision" for party's expansion in Maharashtra.

Suspended party leader and a former key face of AAP in Maharashtra, Mayank Gandhi accused Kejriwal of "demolishing party's base" in the state.

"Kejriwal wants its Delhi team to be kept intact while he wants no challenge from its leaders of other states. This is why he deliberately destroyed party's base in Maharashtra and Mumbai," he said.

Only party leaders Preeti Sharma Menon, Meera Sanyal along with a handful of supporters were present outside the Kurla court.

A senior state leader on condition of anonymity said, "Volunteers in the state and Mumbai are extremely discouraged because Kejriwal has ruined party's base in Maharashtra. Volunteers now feel that it is a wastage of time being associated with the party."

He said it has happened for the first time that there was no strong supporters' base behind the party chief during his visit to Mumbai.

Another leader said they had hoped that Kejriwal would give some time to meet them and discuss issues but it was dejecting that he did not even spare a single minute to meet party workers here.

Meanwhile, party spokesperson Preeti Sharma has said, "Mayank Gandhi, Sanjay Parmar (former treasurer) have been suspended, while Anjali Damania and Medha Patkar are no longer with the party, so there arises no question of these people accompanying Kejriwal."

"There were scores of volunteers and supporters along with Meera Sanyal, Kumud Mishra," she said.

PTI