Kailash Gahlot, former Delhi minister and a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday.
Gahlot’s move came just a day after he announced his resignation from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, marking a major shift in his political allegiance.
At a ceremony at the BJP headquarters, prominent BJP leaders, including Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, BJP National Vice President Jay Panda, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, and senior leader Anil Baluni, welcomed Gahlot into the party.
His induction into the BJP is seen as a strategic gain for the party as Delhi approaches its upcoming Assembly elections in February 2024.
Reasons For Resignation: A Deepening Rift
Gahlot, a two-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Najafgarh and a key figure for the AAP in Delhi’s Jat community, served in various high-profile ministries, including Home, Transport, IT, and Women and Child Development, since the AAP came to power in 2017.
However, his resignation letter to AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal cited a growing sense of disillusionment with the party’s direction.
He accused AAP of straying from the ideals that once united its members, calling attention to what he described as a shift in priorities.
“Today, AAP faces grave challenges….to the values that brought us together,” Gahlot wrote.
He specifically pointed to the party’s failure to deliver on key promises, most notably the cleaning of the Yamuna River, which has only worsened during his tenure.
The ‘Sheeshmahal’ Controversy
In his letter, Gahlot also took aim at the controversies surrounding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, famously dubbed the ‘Sheeshmahal’ by critics.
Gahlot stated, “There are several embarrassing and bizarre issues like Sheeshmahal, which have now led people to question whether we still believe in being the party of the common man.”
The former minister also highlighted the ongoing tensions between the Delhi government and the central government, suggesting that constant political battles were stalling the city’s progress.
“It is now clear that if the Delhi government spends most of its time fighting with the Centre, real progress for Delhi is not possible,” he added.
Gahlot’s departure from the AAP dealt a significant setback to the party, especially with the Assembly elections looming in February next year.
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