Eight MLAs Depart AAP for BJP, Impacting Kejriwal's Party Ahead of Delhi Elections
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Synopsis
With the Delhi Assembly elections fast approaching, eight MLAs from AAP have joined BJP, marking a significant shift in the political landscape. Tensions rise as AAP faces criticism and a potential loss of support.
Key Takeaways
- Eight MLAs resign from AAP.
- Joined BJP just before Delhi elections.
- Naresh Yadav raised concerns about corruption.
- Voting for Delhi Assembly set for February 5.
- Potential triangular contest in 2025 elections.
New Delhi, Feb 1 (NationPress) With merely four days remaining before the Delhi Assembly elections slated for February 5, eight legislators who previously resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday.
The MLAs who transitioned from AAP to BJP include Girish Soni (Madhipur), Bhavna Gaur (Palam), Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Pawan Sharma (Adarsh Nagar), Rajesh Rishi (Uttam Nagar), B.S. Joon (Bijwasan), Rohit Mehrolia (Trilokpuri), and Naresh Yadav (Mahrauli). Additionally, former MLA Vijender Garg along with Municipal Councillors Ajay Rai and Sunil Chadda also made the switch to BJP. Notably, AAP did not award election tickets to any of these members this time around, leading to their discontent with the party leadership.
The legislators submitted their resignation letters to AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as well as to the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Naresh Yadav, who was AAP's candidate for Mehrauli, had been convicted by a Punjab court in December for a Quran desecration incident, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. Consequently, when AAP revealed its fifth candidate list for the upcoming elections, Mahender Chaudhary was announced as the new Mehrauli candidate, replacing Yadav.
In his resignation letter, Naresh Yadav expressed that AAP had forsaken its founding principle of “honest politics”. He claimed that instead of adhering to its commitment to combat corruption, the party had “become entangled in the swamp of corruption itself”, referencing the Delhi liquor policy scandal which saw former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and ex-deputy Manish Sisodia imprisoned for several months.
The voting for the 70-member Delhi Assembly is scheduled for February 5, with results anticipated on February 8. The 2025 Delhi elections may witness a triangular contest involving AAP, BJP, and Congress.
As the legislators and leaders joined the BJP, BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda hailed the day as “historic”, stating they were now liberated from the “disaster” of AAP, and expressed hope that Delhi would be free from it following the elections on February 5.
