Rahul Gandhi reportedly critical of exit route provided to Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi:  Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Congress party's campaign for the national election, was reportedly upset with the compromise supplied by the Centre to Arvind Kejriwal, allowing the Delhi Chief Minister to call off his demonstration while claiming victory.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was one of the twin targets of Mr Kejriwal's protest. The other was the Delhi Police, which reports to Mr Shinde. 

At a meeting held at his home last evening, Mr Gandhi, 43, reportedly made it clear to senior Congress leaders including Mr Shinde that a compromise should not have been purveyed to Mr Kejriwal. Sources say the Prime Minister, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Mr Gandhi had not been consulted about the truce offered to Mr Kejriwal by Mr Shinde.

For two consecutive days, Mr Kejriwal's sit-in at the heart of the capital created traffic nightmares and threatened to prevent the police from the security lockdown needed in central Delhi for Sunday's Republic Day. 
Yesterday, union Home Minister Shinde reportedly conveyed a compromise to Mr Kejriwal through Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.  If the chief minister abandoned his protest, two of the five police officers that he wanted suspended for alleged negligence would be asked to proceed on leave.  And an inquiry against the police officers would be fast-tracked.

Mr Kejriwal's protest, held in biting cold and rain, had not drawn large crowds. The fact that the city's highest elected official was holding it hostage triggered a wash of criticism. Critics felt his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was looking for cover that would allow it to call off the demonstration. Mr Shinde's offer filled the gap.

The Congress is propping up Mr Kejriwal's minority government in Delhi despite a section of the party making it clear that it does not agree with the alliance. Mr Gandhi and other senior leaders, sources say, are determined not to withdraw support because that would allow Mr Kejriwal to brand himself as a political upstart,  taking on traditional and archaic parties who are incapable of placing the public's need for good governance above their hunger for power.