A day after resigning from his ministerial position and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kailash Gahlot, a key figure in Delhi politics and a prominent Jat leader, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. The move comes ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.
Gahlot, who previously served as Delhi’s transport minister, joined the BJP in the presence of Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva. In his resignation letter, he cited growing disillusionment with AAP, alleging the party had shifted its focus from people’s welfare to political ambitions. He also mentioned unfulfilled promises and recent controversies as reasons for his departure.
During his tenure with AAP, Gahlot held significant portfolios, including Home, IT, Administrative Reforms, and Women and Child Development. Representing Najafgarh as MLA, his resignation from the council of ministers was immediately accepted by Chief Minister Atishi.
AAP Reacts to Gahlot’s Exit
AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responded to Gahlot’s decision by saying, “He is free to go wherever he wants.”
However, senior AAP leaders accused the BJP of coercing Gahlot. Party MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP used pressure tactics, including Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probes, to secure Gahlot’s resignation and subsequent induction into the BJP.
Sanjay Singh remarked, “This is BJP’s ‘dirty politics.’ They use ED and CBI raids to threaten individuals and then induct them into the BJP to absolve them of all charges.” He further criticized what he called the “Modi Washing Machine,” a term AAP uses to accuse the BJP of welcoming individuals accused of corruption without consequence.
Chief party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar echoed these sentiments, asserting that Gahlot joined the BJP to avoid imprisonment amid ongoing investigations against him and his family.
BJP’s Gain
Gahlot’s switch is seen as a strategic move for the BJP to strengthen its foothold in Delhi, particularly among the Jat community, ahead of the elections.