New Delhi:
Shortly before the assembly elections in Delhi, Kailash Gehlot has resigned from the primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). What is the reason for Kailash Gehlot leaving the party? AAP leaders are blaming BJP for Gehlot’s resignation. They are saying that Gehlot has left the party under the pressure of investigation by the central investigating agencies. But is this really the reason, or is it the conflict of ambitions between Gehlot and Chief Minister Atishi?
The rift between Aam Aadmi Party and Kailash Gehlot was increasing for a long time. The script of his resignation was written in December last year when the justice department was taken from Kailash Gehlot and given to Atishi. People close to Kailash Gehlot say that it was then that it became clear that the top leadership of the party did not have the same trust in Kailash Gehlot as it did in Atishi. Then on the issue of hoisting the flag on August 15, after Arvind Kejriwal went to jail, Kejriwal wanted Atishi to hoist the flag but the Lieutenant Governor gave the opportunity to Kailash Gehlot to hoist the flag. The question is also being raised whether Kailash Gehlot was also a contender for the post of Chief Minister, which was given to Atishi instead of him.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh has said that Kailash Gehlot is reading BJP’s script. Whereas Kailash Gehlot has written in his letter that the credibility of Aam Aadmi Party was continuously falling on the issue of cleaning of Yamuna and ‘Sheeshmahal’.
Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal is silent on Gehlot’s resignation. In the press conference organized to welcome former BJP MLA Anil Jha into AAP, Kejriwal was asked about Gehlot’s sudden resignation. On this he immediately turned the mike towards senior party leader Durgesh Pathak sitting next to him. Durgesh Pathak said that Kailash Gehlot was being interrogated and raided by ED and Income Tax Department for several months.
When the reporter asked him to respond, before the reader could start speaking, Kejriwal smiled and said, “You want an answer, right?” Kejriwal criticized BJP soon after, but did not mention Gehlot’s resignation.
Gehlot had no option: Durgesh Pathak
Durgesh Pathak said, “ED and Income Tax Department have been interrogating and raiding Kailash Gehlot for many months, so he had no option. He said, but this makes it clear that BJP has lost the Delhi elections. He doesn’t have any issues. They are fighting on the strength of ED, CBI and Income Tax Department and we are fighting on people’s issues.”
Earlier, party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that Gehlot’s resignation is part of BJP’s “dirty politics”. In a video shared on AAP’s Twitter handle, he said, “Kailash Gehlot was being put under pressure through ED-CBI raids and he is speaking as per BJP’s script. Modi started washing machine before Delhi elections. Now many leaders will be included in BJP through this.”
Opposition parties often use the term ‘washing machine’ to accuse BJP of forcing opposition leaders to switch parties by threatening investigations by central agencies. Opposition parties allege that any action against such leaders is stopped as soon as they join BJP.
Gehlot points towards serious challenges within AAP
The reaction from the common man came about an hour after Gehlot posted his resignation letter on his X handle. Gehlot, a senior party leader, was in charge of key departments like Home and Transport. In the letter addressed to Kejriwal, he has pointed towards serious challenges within ‘AAP’.
Kailash Gehlot wrote, “Political ambitions have overtaken our commitment to the people, leaving many promises unfulfilled. Take Yamuna for example, which we promised to convert into a clean river, but it never happened.” It is possible that now the Yamuna river has become even more polluted than before.”
While clearly targeting Kejriwal, Gehlot has mentioned many shameful and strange controversies like “Sheeshmahal”. BJP uses the word Sheeshmahal for the Chief Minister’s residence renovated during Kejriwal’s tenure. Gehlot has said that such controversies are “now putting everyone in doubt whether we still believe in being a common man.”
— Kailash Gahlot (@kgahlot) November 17, 2024
Ability to provide basic services to the people of Delhi paralyzed
Gehlot said, “Aam Aadmi Party is fighting for its political agenda and it has severely crippled our ability to provide even basic services to the people of Delhi.” He said, “It is now clear that There can be no real progress in Delhi if the Delhi government spends most of its time fighting the Centre.”
Gehlot finally wrote, “I started my political journey with a commitment to serve the people of Delhi and I want to continue it. That is why I have no option but to separate from ‘AAP’. Didn’t survive and hence I am resigning from the primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party. I wish you all the best for your health and future.
Kailash Gehlot, a lawyer by profession, is the MLA of Najafgarh assembly constituency. He has been a cabinet minister since 2015. Last year, after the arrest of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a corruption case, he also took over the important finance department.
Also read –
Shock to AAP before elections, Minister Kailash Gehlot resigned, said – no option left now
Former BJP MLA Anil Jha joins AAP, says Kejriwal has done many things for the people of Purvanchal
