Has Kejriwal turned AAP into his private party as Vishwas, Bhushan and Yadav allege?

Calling himself a "martyr" and mocking the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominees for Rajya Sabha elections as "great revolutionaries", disgruntled party leader Kumar Vishwas said that anyone who disagrees with party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could not survive in the party that came up as a by-product of an anti-corruption movement.

Kumar Vishwas has supporters in the likes of Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Mayank Gandhi and Kapil Mishra - all came to the forefront of politics following anti-graft movement led by activist Anna Hazare under the banner of India Against Corruption in 2011-12.

Kapil Mishra too said that Kejriwal betrayed the common man by nominating two croreparti businessmen for the Rajya Sabha polls from Delhi.

Kejriwal has been repeated accused by many including senior functionaries in the Aam Aadmi Party of acting like a dictator in party affairs. Even in the case of the Rajya Sabha nominations, many party leaders said that the names were finalised by Kejriwal and Co while the legislature party and the political affairs committee (PAC) were only asked to ratify his decisions.

AAP'S GLORIOUS DEBUT

Breaking away from the India Against Corruption movement, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishwas and their supporters launched the Aam Aadmi Party on November 26, 2012. The date was chosen to coincide with the Constitution Day or the National Law Day celebrated every year on November 26 to mark the anniversary of the adoption of India's Constitution on the day in 1949.

Kejiriwal was the undisputed leader of the party, which made an astounding debut in election in 2013 when the three-term Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit was stunned by the AAP convener. The AAP stood second after the BJP winning 28 of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. Kejriwal became the CM with support from the Congress as the BJP decided not to form government despite winning 31 seats.

Kejriwal government survived for only 49 days. But it created deep fissures in the party on the issue of functioning and offering a political alternative. By the In February 2015, when elections were held which the AAP swept by winning more than 95 per cent seats, the divide in the party was complete.

FIRST REVOLT IN AAP

Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan wrote a joint letter in February 2015 to the National Executive of the AAP raising objections to what they alleged was the unilateral decision-making by Arvind Kejriwal. They accused Kejriwal of deviating from the core principle of the AAP - Swaraj (self rule).

Both Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan alleged that Kejriwal was acting in an autocratic manner. Kerjiwal supporters responded by throwing them out of the party in two months after securing brute majority in the Delhi Assembly.

Founding members of the AAP Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha were also expelled from the party along with Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan after the National Council of the party voted against them. They all were accused of trying to engineer a defeat of the AAP in February 2015 Delhi polls.

After Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were thrown out of the party, Arvind Kejriwal emerged as unchallenged leader of the AAP. The strongest opposition to his authority had been dealt with decisively in the party.

Kumar Vishwas was among those who opposed expulsion of Yogendra Yadav and Prasahant Bhushan. Vishwas even recently suggested that the AAP should start talks with Yadav and Bhushan to bring them back in the party.

MAYANK GANDHI WENT DOWN WITHOUT FIGHTING

Before joining the India Against Corruption in 2011, Mayank Gandhi was into activism for more than five years. He was one of the founding members of the AAP in 2012.

Mayank Gandhi was the Maharashtra AAP chief and a member of the national executive till 2015, when he parted ways with the party over differences with Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP convener had disbanded the Maharashtra unit by then.

Mayank Gandhi accused Kejriwal of "using and throwing" party leaders and volunteers. He alleged nepotism in the party saying that Kejriwal had deviated from honest politics for which the AAP was founded. When he quit the AAP, Mayank Gandhi said he had lost interest in politics.

He has now alleged that the AAP sold Rajya Sabha tickets to businessmen who were announced as party's nominee for the election to the Upper House of Parliament.

KAPIL MISHRA'S REBELLION

Kapil Mishra is a suspended MLA of the AAP. In May last year, Kapil Mishra revolted against Kejriwal alleging that he was involved in corruption.

He alleged that Arvind Kejriwal hid information about donations made to the AAP, lied to the Election Commission on the matter and laundered money using more than a dozen shell companies.

Kapil Mishra's allegations followed his sacking from Kejriwal government over issues related to alleged non-performance. He also accused Kejriwal of shielding former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and Satyendra Jain, a minister in the AAP government.

AND, THERE IS A KUMAR VISHWAS

All through these rebellions, Kumar Vishwas was seen as on the other side of Arvind Kejriwal. Kumar Vishwas batted for Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan before extending support to Mayank Gandhi and Kapil Mishra.

In the meantime, Kumar Vishwas was accused of attempting a change in leadership in the AAP. Kejriwal supporters accused Vishwas of trying to unseat Kejriwal as party chief and become convener of the AAP.

Kumar Vishwas has taken to social media criticising Arvind Kejriwal alleging that internal democracy was being compromised in the AAP under his leadership. After the AAP declared its Rajya Sabha election candidates, Kumar Vishwas said that loyalty did not matter for Kejriwal.

Kumar Vishwas is said to have large number of sympathisers in the AAP - both at various levels of party organisation and among the 67 MLAs in Delhi Assembly. Around 22-25 MLAs are said to be on the side of Kumar Vishwas in his internal battle with Kejriwal.

It is said that owing to sizeable hold of Kumar Vishwas among the cadres and elected members of the AAP that Arvind Kejriwal has shied away from taking action against the poet-politician. Many in the AAP support Kumar Vishwas stating that the party should not become a private political affairs outfit of a few, with Arvind Kejriwal as their high command.

WATCH: After Rajya Sabha snub, Kumar Vishwas takes a dig at Arvind Kejriwal