After repeated poll debacles, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas asks party to ponder on leadership change

Vishwas said that the party needs 'radical reforms'.

New Delhi: In yet another blow to Arvind Kejriwal, his aide Kumar Vishwas has raised doubts about Delhi Chief Minister and the AAP convenor's ability to win elections and said the party should do soul-searching for the repeated loses.

He suggested that the party should consider taking drastic steps, including leadership change, if it wants to remain viable in the political arena.

The AAP leader questioned Kejriwal's defence for losing Punjab elections, Rajouri by-poll as well as the MCD elections.

"We did not lose the elections because of EVMs. People did not vote for us in enough number. There is mistrust among the people for us.

"Blaming EVMs is not good. That can be a factor but we failed to reach out to the voters and volunteers," Vishwas told India Today.

He said that Kejriwal's stand on the surgical strikes was wrong. He "should not have attacked the Prime Minister over surgical strike".

He blamed the AAP loss in Punjab election on the party's wrong decision.

Though "Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak (AAP's Punjab in-charges) resigned but that was too late," he added.

On the MCD electoral loss, Vishwas said, "This is our sixth defeat because we were disconnected with volunteers.

“EVMs should not be blamed solely. We lost because people did not vote for us."

"Gopal Rai was given charge of Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal. Nothing was discussed. The decision was told in the PAC," Vishwas said, adding the "Party needs to change. Instead of blaming others, we must introspect for the loss."

He said that the party needs 'radical reforms'.

In the recent past, other AAP leaders like Alka Lamba and Kapil Mishra have also been critical of the party's views on the poll debacles.