Ashutosh who resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party on August 15 said that he was forced by the party to use his surname at the time of the elections that were held in 2014.
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“In 23 years of my journalism, no one asked my caste, surname. Was known by my name. But as I was introduced to party workers as Lok Sabha candidate in 2014 my surname was promptly mentioned despite my protest,” Ashutosh, who uses his first name, tweeted.
In 23 years of my journalism, no one asked my caste, surname. Was known by my name. But as I was introduced to party workers as LOKSABHA candidate in 2014 my surname was promptly mentioned despite my protest. Later I was told – सर आप जीतोगे कैसे, आपकी जाति के यहाँ काफी वोट हैं ।
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) August 29, 2018
Ashutosh was contesting from Chandni Chowk and was told to use his surname as it will help them to get more votes. He lost to the Bharatiya janata Party’s Harsh Vardhan and Congress leader Kapil Sibal.
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After his tweet was highlighted, Ashutosh posted again to say “it will be wrong to attribute my words as attack on AAP”. “My tweet is misunderstood by TV HAWKS. I am no longer with AAP, not constrained by party discipline and free to express my views … It will be gross manipulation of media freedom. Spare me. I not member of anti-AAP BRIGADE,” he said.
My tweet is misunderstood by TV HAWKS. I am no longer with AAP, not constrained by party discipline and free to express my views. It will be wrong to attribute my words as attack on AAP. It will be gross manipulation of media freedom. Spare me. I not member of anti-AAP BRIGADE.
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) August 29, 2018
The tweet from Ashutosh comes a day after another Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena dropped her “second name” in all party records and campaign materials.