AAP names RS candidates, Kumar Vishwas says it’s ‘martyrdom’

(Photo: IANS/File)


The hard-bought peace between Kumar Vishwas and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) brass came to an end on Wednesday over naming of three candidates to the Rajya Sabha minus the poet-politician.

Kumar Vishwas was quick to express his displeasure before the mediapersons and also took to Twitter.

Kumar Vishwas shared a video on his Twitter account, saying: “Sabko ladne hi pade yudh, chahe Raja Ram ho, ya Gautam Buddh (Everybody had to fight their battles be it Lord Ram or Gautam Buddha).”

While taking a jibe at Delhi CM, Vishwas told media in Hindi, “(Arvind) Kejriwal ne mujhe muskurate hue kaha tha, maarunga par shaheed nahi hone dunga. Mera nivedan hai ki shav ke saath chhedchhad na karein, ye yudh ka niyam hota hai (A smiling Kejriwal had said that he will kill me, but will not let me a martyr. My request now is to release the body, it’s a rule of war).”

“I congratulate Arvind today that I accept my martyrdom,” he said. “Main jaanta hu aap (Kejriwal) ki icchha ke bina hamaare dal mein kuchh hota nahi. Aapse asehmat reh ke wahan jeevit rehna mushkil hai (I know that nothing happens in the party without Kejrwal’s wishes. It’s difficult to survive in the party if one disagrees with you),” he said.

The relations between Kejriwal and Vishwas had nosedived after the latter questioned Delhi CM’s strategy for pandering to ‘Khalisatni elements’ accommodate during Punjab Assembly elections. Vishwas had also disagreed with Kejriwal’s criticism on surgical strike carried out by Indian armed forces last year.

The AAP on Wednesday named its three Rajya Sabha candidates from Delhi — Sanjay Singh, businessman Sushil Gupta and chartered accountant ND Gupta.

Addressing the media, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said: “Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta and Sushil Gupta are the final names for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi.”

The decision was taken by AAP’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.

The elections for three seats from Delhi will be held on 16 January.

The last date to file nominations for the three Rajya Sabha seats in Delhi is 5 January.