In a significant political development, Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the following day. Gahlot, a key leader in AAP and a prominent Jat figure, expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s shift from its founding principles, accusing it of prioritizing political ambitions over public welfare.
In his resignation letter addressed to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, the 50-year-old Gahlot criticized the party’s evolving priorities. “Instead of fighting for people’s rights, we have increasingly only been fighting for our own political agenda,” Gahlot wrote, highlighting how AAP’s focus had drifted from serving the public to pursuing political gains. He further criticized AAP’s failure to address key issues such as the cleanup of the Yamuna River, which remains severely polluted despite promises to restore it.
Gahlot also raised concerns over some of the party’s controversies, particularly the ‘Sheeshmahal’ issue, calling it an embarrassing episode that has led people to question whether AAP still adheres to its core values of being a party for the “Aam Aadmi.” His resignation marks another blow to the AAP ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February next year.
Blow to AAP Leadership Ahead of Delhi Elections
Gahlot’s departure is the third resignation from the AAP’s ministerial ranks in recent months. Earlier this year, Raaj Kumar Anand, the Minister for Social Welfare and Labour, also quit AAP and joined the BJP. Anand’s departure followed that of Rajendra Pal Gautam, who resigned in November 2022, further weakening the party’s leadership team.
Gahlot, who had held key portfolios including Home, Administrative Reforms, IT, and Women and Child Development, was seen as a prominent leader in AAP. His exit adds to the growing list of challenges facing the party as it prepares for the upcoming elections in Delhi.
Criticism of AAP’s Governance and Internal Issues
In his resignation letter, Gahlot pointed to the party’s internal challenges and its failure to meet the expectations of Delhi’s residents. He emphasized that AAP’s political agenda has increasingly overshadowed its commitment to governance and public service. The party’s inability to deliver on critical promises like cleaning the Yamuna River and its focus on controversial issues have, according to Gahlot, contributed to a growing disconnect with the people it was meant to serve.
As AAP braces for a tough electoral battle, the loss of a key leader like Gahlot, combined with internal divisions and public dissatisfaction, could pose significant challenges in the party’s effort to retain power in the Delhi Assembly.
