Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Kailash Gehlot quit the primary membership of the party on Sunday over “embarrassing controversies.”
In a letter addressed to party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Gehlot stated that the party is facing “grave challenges” from within to the very values that “brought us together.”
“Political ambitions have overtaken our commitment towards people, leaving many promises unfulfilled,” he said.
He mentioned the issue of pollution in river Yamuna, alleged irregularities in the renovation of Kejriwal’s residence — referred to as “sheeshmahal” — by BJP, and infighting as the reasons for leaving the party.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Kailash Gahlot resign from primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party; writes to party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The letter reads, “There are many embarrassing and awkward controversies like the ‘Sheeshmahal’, which are now making everyone doubt… https://t.co/NVhTjXl1c2 pic.twitter.com/rOJnVlcX2q
— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2024
“Take for example the YAMUNA, which we had promised to transform into a clean river, but never got around to doing it. Now the Yamuna River is perhaps even more polluted than ever before,” he said.
“Apart from this, now there are many embarrassing and awkward controversies like the ‘SHEESHMAHAL’, which are now making everyone doubt whether we still believe in being the AAM AADMI,” he added.
“This has severely crippled our ability to even deliver basic services to the people of Delhi. It is now obvious that real progress for Delhi cannot happen if the Delhi Government spends the majority of its time fighting with the Centre,” Gehlot said in the letter.
Reacting to the development, Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi chief Virendraa Sachdeva lauded Gehlot saying he did a “very courageous act.” “Gehlot held a mirror to Kejriwal,” Sachdeva told ABP News.
Gehlot’s resignation comes as a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party as Delhi is slated to undergo polls to the legislative assembly in February next year. He holds portfolios including Transport, Administrative Reforms, IT, Home, and Women & Child Development.
