New Delhi: In the midst of an ugly war within its top leadership, the Aam Aadmi Party’s national executive meet on Wednesday may crack the whip on founder members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan. The party on Monday acknowledged the internal rift for the first time, saying: “Attempts were made to remove Arvind Kejriwal from the post of the party’s national convener.”

Party sources said the duo are expected to be expelled from the party’s top decision-making body, the political affairs committee, for attempting to “remove” Mr Kejriwal as party convener and attacking the AAP’s functioning through detailed notes leaked to the media. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh also attacked party patron Shanti Bhushan for his comment that Mr Kejriwal should be replaced by Mr Yadav as AAP convener.

“Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav will be told that as per majority decision, they will need to step down from the PAC. They will be told that even though their viewpoints are respected in the party, as they do not have a majority with them, they will be asked to either toe the line or leave,” a party source said. They said they were confident Mr Yadav and Mr Bhushan will be voted out of the PAC.

Senior AAP leader and PAC member Sanjay Singh also attacked the party patron Shanti Bhushan for his comments that Mr Kejriwal should be replaced by Mr Yadav as AAP’s national convener.