Day After Resigning As Delhi Minister, Ex-AAP Leader Kailash Gahlot Joins BJP

Last Updated:November 18, 2024, 12:45 IST

Former Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Kailash Gahlot, who resigned from the party on November 17,joined the BJP today.

Ex-AAP leader Kailash Gahlot arrives at Delhi BJP office | Image/ANI

Former Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Kailash Gahlot, who resigned from the party yesterday (November 17) citing the government’s “unfulfilled promises," joined the BJP on November 18.

Ending a day of speculation about his next political move, the Najafgarh MLA joined the BJP in the presence of Manohar Lal Khattar, Jay Panda, Virendra Sachdeva, and Dushyant Gautam.

Gahlot, once a close aide of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, resigned from the council of ministers with immediate effect. Later, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accepted his resignation.

Meanwhile, reports suggested that the ministries held by Gahlot in the AAP government: Transport, Administrative Reforms, Information & Technology, Home and Women & Child Development, will remain with Chief Minister Atishi until a new appointment.

Kejriwal Reacts To Gahlot’s Exit

Kejriwal on Monday broke his silence on the resignation of party leader Gahlot, saying “He is free, he can go wherever he wants." The remarks came during a press briefing where Congress leader and former MLA Sumesh Shokeen joined the AAP.

The AAP, which faced a major jolt ahead of the Delhi Assembly election next year, accused the BJP of “conspiring against their leaders" by putting them under pressure using central probe agencies.

AAP Alleges Agency Pressure

AAP MP Sanjay Singh said that Gahlot had “no option" but to leave the party as he came under pressure after Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax raids, which were held against him many times in the last five years.

“Kailash Gahlot has been raided by the ED, Income Tax many times. He was part of the government for five years, and the BJP was continuously conspiring against him, he was left with no other option but to go with the BJP," AAP MP Sanjay Singh said.

Gahlot’s Surprise Move

Gahlot submitted his resignation from AAP to Kejriwal, stating that he had ‘no option’ but to step down due to the “embarrassing and awkward controversies" linked to the party.

Last year, then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was accused of “spending Rs 45 crore" on the renovation of his official residence, which the BJP named as ‘Sheesh Mahal" in an apparent jibe.

The Najafgarh MLA, Gahlot, referred to the “Sheesh Mahal" controversy and said that it has made everyone doubt whether they still believe in being Aam Aadmi (Common Man).

Gahlot’s exit comes weeks after party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal turned rebel, although she remains an MP from the party. The assembly polls are due in Delhi in the next few weeks as the term of the current assembly will end in February 2025.

Delhi, India

News politics Day After Resigning As Delhi Minister, Ex-AAP Leader Kailash Gahlot Joins BJP