NEW DELHI: One of the top
Aam Aadmi Party leaders,
Ashutosh resigned on Wednesday leaving many party functionaries surprised. Ashutosh, who was a member of party's top decision making body, Political Affairs Committee, and one of the key strategists for the party, announced the resignation on Twitter.
"Every journey has an end. My association with AAP which was beautiful/revolutionary has also an end.I have resigned from the party/requested PAC to accept the same.
It is purely from a very very personal reason.Thanks to party/all of them who supported me Throughout.Thanks," he said.
"To media friends. Please respect my privacy. I won’t be giving any bite of any kind. Please cooperate," he added.
However, hours later, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal refused to accept Ashutosh's resignation, saying "not in this lifetime".
He followed it by retweeting a tweet of him hugging Ashutosh.
Ashutosh was among the few leaders who were considered by AAP when it was picking up its candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi earlier this year. He was considered among the front runners for RS nominations by AAP.
AAP picked senior party leader Sanjay Singh and two outsiders - billionaire businessman Sushil Gupta and chartered accountant ND Gupta - for the three RS seats. Ashutosh was not sent to RS. He, however, never made any public remarks on the party's choices.
Ashutosh was conspicuous by his silence on Twitter during the dharna by CM Arvind Kejriwal and ministers at LG House in June. After journalists asked him about the silence, he clarified that he was on a personal vacation in Europe. But even on vacation he was active on Twitter.