Every week in the past, he was the best backroom boy, quiet and reserved in a celebration identified for supporting and rewarding such supporters. On Saturday, as unconfirmed reviews of two FIRs towards Sandeep Pathak by the Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) authorities in Punjab circulated from throughout the state to Delhi, it was clear that the 46-year-old was unlikely to be within the limelight any time quickly. His defection was additionally seen by rivals as an indication of how deeply it had harm Arvind Kejriwal.
In any case, the bites are the freshest. The night time earlier than seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, together with Pathak, introduced they have been quitting the social gathering and merging with the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering, Kejriwal huddled with Pathak to debate methods to quell the revolt the social gathering had heard was brewing.
For a lot of, the assembly gave a clearer or extra ambiguous image of Pathak’s function in AAP than every other determine. A seemingly apolitical man, like Mr. Kejriwal, an IIT graduate rapidly rose to the highest and had the uncommon privilege within the AAP of getting the chief minister’s ear.
It has been fairly a journey for the Cambridge College PhD holder, whose area of analysis is photo voltaic cells and who solely got here to AAP about 10 years in the past after instructing as an assistant professor on the Delhi Institute of Expertise for some time. The early blush of Kejriwal’s flower, which had drawn outstanding figures from varied boards together with Pathak to AAP, had began to wither by then. However Mr. Kejriwal’s star was at its peak when he took energy in Delhi in 2015.
An influential chief in AAP on the time launched Pathak to Kejriwal. And by all accounts, the AAP chief rapidly discovered favor with the bespectacled 46-year-old with grey, unkempt hair and a penchant for white shirts, giving him a particular place in a celebration that has few assets to unfold the phrase about numbers and information. Finally, Pathak grew to become the primary basic secretary (organisation) of AAP.
Concerning the April 23 assembly between Kejriwal and Pathak, an AAP insider stated, “Pathak’s obligation as basic secretary was to liaise with leaders suspected of getting discussions with the opposite aspect.” In order that night time, the AAP chief referred to as Mr. Pathak to his then Ferozeshah Street residence and for greater than two hours the 2 mentioned methods to thwart the leaders and establish others who have been considering of leaping.
One other AAP chief stated, “A number of Punjab MPs referred to as out to Mr. Arbinji throughout the particular session (on the Girls’s Quota Modification Invoice) and instructed him that he was underneath immense stress to hitch the BJP. A few of them had their properties searched, whereas others claimed that they’d been warned of comparable motion by central businesses.”
The leaders stated Mr. Kejriwal had instructed them that he understood their issues however they need to not bow to stress. “He stated they’d re-elevate themselves to the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering however mustn’t be part of the BJP.”
In accordance with AAP sources, Mr. Pathak got here to Mr. Kejriwal with datasets, lists of social gathering organizations and get in touch with particulars. The truth is, all of this was compiled by him as AAP’s numbers man, conducting analysis on cash-intensive political points and ticket seekers throughout elections.
“Arvinji and Sandeep brainstormed. It’s understood that every thing from the social gathering’s legislative energy throughout the nation to figuring out doubtlessly susceptible leaders and learn how to retain them have been mentioned. In the end, Pathak was given the accountability of persuading sure leaders from among the many insurgent Rajya Sabha MPs to remain,” sources stated.
So when Mr. Pathak appeared on stage together with Mr. Kejriwal’s different former blue-eyed boys, Raghav Chadha and Ashok Mittal, to announce his exit from AAP, the AAP chief was utterly blindsided.
Different social gathering members say they weren’t too shocked, noting that Pathak’s household had “political hyperlinks with the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering” in Chhattisgarh and that he initially oversaw AAP affairs.
Commenting on his fast rise, social gathering insiders stated Pathak had taken a clever transfer after becoming a member of AAP nearly a yr in the past. With AAP significantly contemplating Punjab, “he approached Mr. Arbinji and expressed his want to conduct floor surveys within the state that may assist the social gathering consider potential candidates.”
Pathak’s recognition soared when AAP made its electoral debut in Punjab and emerged because the second largest social gathering within the state. “His analysis seems to have borne fruit, strengthening Albinj’s function as a behind-the-scenes information navigator,” the AAP chief stated.
Pathak’s brilliance lasted for some time, contributing evaluation that led to AAP’s second consecutive victory in Delhi in 2020 and Punjab victory in 2002. In Punjab, he additionally helped construct AAP’s political group from scratch.
Mr. Kejriwal expressed his admiration for Mr. Pathak, whom he married in 2017, by naming him the put up of Prime Minister of India and Normal Secretary (Group) in 2022.
Mr. Pathak’s report as an MP has been blended. The attendance fee was 78.95%, the variety of questions was 242, and there was one member of the committee, however there have been no payments launched or vital participation in debates.
The polling honeymoon additionally deteriorated. If victory got here at Pathak’s gates, so too did defeat. The social gathering carried out dismally within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Delhi. Extra adopted within the capital. “Regardless of Mr. Pathak’s evaluation and analysis, particularly on the candidates, AAP misplaced each the 2023 MCD and 2025 Delhi Meeting polls. Nevertheless, Mr. Pathak roughly remained accountable for the social gathering group,” the supply stated.
This meant that though Pathak “nonetheless loved the arrogance of the nationwide management,” the group and its cadres had misplaced confidence, in accordance with sources. “Questions have been overtly requested about why he remained in workplace whereas a number of others in comparable organizational roles resigned themselves, taking accountability for smaller losses.”
Sources stated Pathak was deterred by the belief that he won’t have a lot time to stay, the AAP battle and “concern of the incident”. “He did so and retained his Rajya Sabha rights,” sources stated.
There may be one other element in regards to the Ferozeshire Street rally that could be troubling Kejriwal. The residence the place he met Pathak was initially allotted to Mittal as Rajya Sabha MP. Of the present seven rebels, Mr. Mittal allowed Mr. Kejriwal to stay, because the AAP chief was ready for appropriate preparations after being voted out of workplace.
Kejriwal had moved into his new dwelling on April 24 when information of the revolt broke.
