In more trouble for AAP, prominent face Ashish Khetan quits party

Just as the party is gearing up for the 2019 polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced another setback on Wednesday with party leader and former journalist Ashish Khetan announcing his exit from the party and that he " was not involved in active politics at the moment”. Khetan's announcement came within a week of party veteran Ashutosh, also a former journalist, announcing his resignation.

While Ashutosh cited a 'very, very personal reason', Khetan too reportedly had sent his resignation on August 15. The party is yet to accept the resignations of both the members, party sources said.

In a labored social media post on Wednesday, Khetan had a detailed explanation. "For the past two years, I have been plagued with self-doubt and the question of whether I wanted to continue in electoral politics. Early this year I made my decision to quit active politics after much deliberation and in consultation with family and close friends," said he said, adding that he waited for an "opportune time" to formalise his decision.


He added that his "personal decision" to move away from the party and electoral politics should not be viewed as a reflection on AAP.

Party sources claimed that Khetan was also eyeing the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. While the party has announced the prabharis for five Lok Sabha seats, it was yet to annonce the names of people in charge of the West Delhi constituency and the New Delhi seat.

Khetan, had joined AAP in 2014 and contested the national election from the New Delhi constituency in the capital but lost to the BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi.

He was appointed vice chairman of the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), an advisory body attached to the Delhi Government and is credited with DDC's projects related to government activities in rural Delhi and matter related to women's security. .

He had however quit from the post in April this year, saying he was joining the legal profession. He had also referred to the "frustration" caused due to the ongoing tussle between the AAP government and the LG.