Kailash Gahlot’s resignation from AAP signals deeper rifts within the party. This departure raises questions about AAP’s stability and potential shifts in political alliances ahead of the 2025 assembly polls in the national capital.
Months before the planned assembly elections in the nation’s capital, Kailash Gahlot, a Delhi minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), resigned from both the party and the government on Sunday, November 17.
The second serving minister to leave the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and government this year is Gahlot, the Transport Minister and Najafgarh MLA in the Atishi-led AAP government. Raaj Kumar Anand, the minister of social welfare, resigned on April 10.
For a while now, there has been conjecture regarding Gahlot’s distaste for the celebration. In the most recent Haryana elections, he did not participate in the party’s campaign. Gahlot’s departure signifies the end of his disagreement with the party, and the Delhi Liquor Policy case is connected to his resignation.
Division of PortfoliosÂ
Gahlot became dissatisfied shortly after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Manish Sisodia, the deputy chief minister at the time, in the Liquor Policy Case in March 2023. Health, education, revenue, electricity, water, finance, and home were among the eighteen portfolios that Sisodia owned.
Atishi, who is currently the Chief Minister of Delhi, and Saurabh Bhardwaj shared Sisodia’s ministries.
Even worse, Gahlot lost the Law and Justice Department, which was transferred to Atishi. According to accounts, this made it abundantly evident that Gahlot was not highly trusted by the party’s top leadership.
According to a source who wished to remain anonymous, Gahlot, a senior minister and two-time MLA, might not have approved of Atishi, a new MLA, being given significant responsibilities within the administration. According to the leader, Gahlot believed his significance in the government and the party was eroding after Atishi was appointed Chief Minister.
Close to L-G
Gahlot had a reputation for being close to Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor (L-G). In contrast to other AAP ministers, the L-G and Gahlot attended numerous Transport Department events.
On Independence Day, 2024, Atishi was given the task of raising the flag by then-Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was incarcerated. However, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of Delhi stepped in and requested that Gahlot handle the formalities instead. Gahlot eventually raised the Tricolor.
Gahlot gave two grounds for his resignation in his letter: “dwindling credibility” of AAP on Yamuna cleaning and “Sheeshmahal,” a word coined by the BJP to refer to the chief minister’s restored home.
Gahlot is probably going to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and run from the Najafgarh seat in the 2024 Delhi assembly elections. His resignation on Sunday was followed by a ‘Modi Washing Machine’ jab at the opposition BJP from the AAP.
