Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled early next year, BJP leader Pravesh Ratan joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday.
Ratan, a 2020 BJP candidate from Patel Nagar, joined AAP during a press conference with senior leader Manish Sisodia.
A notable figure from the Jatav community, Ratan cited dissatisfaction with the BJP’s functioning in Delhi as his reason for the move.
Ratan stated, “The community from which I come has immense love for Arvind Kejriwal. I am not happy with the working style of the Delhi state BJP. I am here now and will stay here.”
Criticizing his former party, he added, “The Jatav community and people from the lower classes are still being oppressed. I have been following Arvind Kejriwal for a long time. He has done remarkable work for the Jatav community in a short time, providing relief and opportunities for progress.”
Manish Sisodia, expressing his delight at Ratan’s decision, asserting, “I am very happy that today, impressed by the work carried out under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership for the lower classes and the Jatav community, Pravesh Ratan is joining the AAP.”
This development follows the defection of former AAP MLA Raj Kumar Anand, also from Patel Nagar, who joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) before eventually switching to the BJP.
In the 2020 elections, Ratan lost to Anand by over 30,000 votes. With both leaders now representing rival parties, Patel Nagar is likely to become a key battleground in the upcoming elections.
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