The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing a major political setback ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, as eight of its sitting MLAs resigned on Friday, accusing the party of corruption and neglect. The timing of these resignations, just five days before the polls, has raised questions about internal dissent and the party’s leadership.
MLAs Express Discontent with AAP Leadership
The eight MLAs who resigned include:
- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar)
- Bhavna Gaur (Palam)
- Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli)
- Rohit Mehraulia (Trilokpuri)
- Pawan Sharma (Adarsh Nagar)
- B S Joon (Bijwasan)
- Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri)
- Girish Soni (Madipur)
Several of them posted their resignation letters on social media, openly criticizing AAP’s leadership. Bhavna Gaur, a two-time MLA, wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, stating, “I have lost faith in you and the party.” Meanwhile, Rohit Mehraulia claimed that AAP has abandoned its founding principles, stating, “They only need a photo of Baba Saheb, not his ideology.”
AAP’s Response: Denies Allegations, Calls It ‘Opportunism’
AAP national spokesperson Reena Gupta dismissed the allegations, revealing that a party survey found these MLAs were inaccessible to the public, leading to their removal from the candidate list.
“They were replaced due to poor feedback. Their resignations and shift to another party only prove their opportunism,” Gupta said.
AAP also defended its candidate selection, emphasizing that it prioritizes “ordinary individuals from humble backgrounds” over non-performing incumbents.
Was It Internal Rift or a Political Strategy?
The controversy deepened after it was revealed that Naresh Yadav was initially given a ticket, but AAP revoked it following his conviction in a 2016 religious desecration case. His replacement by Mahender Chaudhary fueled speculation about selective candidate screening within the party.
Some AAP leaders slammed the defectors, with Kirari MLA Rituraj Jha accusing them of betrayal. He declared, “History will never forgive them,” reaffirming his loyalty to Kejriwal.
BJP Sees an Opening in AAP’s Troubles
With AAP battling to retain power for a third consecutive term, the BJP sees an opportunity to end its 25-year absence from Delhi’s governance. The resignations could provide ammunition for the opposition to challenge Kejriwal’s leadership in the February 5 elections.
As AAP faces a tough electoral battle, the impact of these defections on its poll performance remains to be seen.
