Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot resigns from AAP; party claims ED, CBI pressure

In a major political development, Delhi’s Transport Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kailash Gahlot has resigned from the party’s primary membership.

In his resignation letter addressed to AAP’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Gahlot cited unfulfilled promises and recent controversies as reasons for stepping down. Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot, who holds portfolios including Transport, Administrative Reforms, IT, Home, and Women & Child Development, has also submitted his resignation to the Council of Ministers, Government of NCT of Delhi.

CITES UNFULFILLED PROMISES AS KEY REASON
Gahlot, a prominent figure in the AAP government, expressed dissatisfaction over the party’s inability to deliver on key promises made to the people of Delhi. In his letter, he highlighted the failure to clean the Yamuna River despite it being a major election pledge. “We promised the people a cleaner Yamuna, but we have failed to deliver on that commitment,” he wrote.

ADDRESSES KEJRIWAL’S BUNGALOW CONTROVERSY

In the letter, he also addressed the controversy surrounding Arvind Kejriwal’s new official bungalow. Gahlot said, “There are several embarrassing and bizarre issues like Sheeshmahal, which have now led people to question whether we still believe in being the party of the common man.”

He further stated that the continuous tussle between the Delhi government and the central government has hindered the city’s progress. “It is now clear that if the Delhi government spends most of its time fighting with the Centre, real progress for Delhi is not possible,” Gahlot added.

‘NO OPTION BUT TO STEP AWAY FROM AAP’
Kailash Gahlot concluded the letter by saying that he had no choice but to distance himself from the party. “I find myself left with no option but to step away from AAP, and therefore, I am resigning from the primary membership of the party,” he wrote.

The resignation of Gahlot, a key minister in the Kejriwal government, comes as a significant setback for the Aam Aadmi Party, especially ahead of the Delhi polls likely to be held in February.

AAP ACCUSES BJP OF ‘LOW LEVEL POLITICS’
In its first official reaction after Kailash Gahlot’s resignation, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of successfully executing a “conspiracy” through low-level politics.

“BJP has succeeded in its conspiracy, its low level politics. Gahlot, who was under pressure from the BJP and had been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was being targeted by central agencies, including the CBI and ED,” Singh claimed.

Regarding the allegations made by Gahlot in his resignation letter, Singh argued, “He can’t make such allegations as he was part of the government for 5 years. BJP has handed over a script to Gahlot, he will have to act accordingly.”

BJP REACTS TO GAHLOT’S RESIGNATION
BJP has reacted to Kailash Gahlot’s resignation and in a post on X, it said, “Everyone is going to run away from Kejriwal’s sinking boat”.

“BJP is coming to Delhi”, the post by Delhi BJP added.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also reacted to the development and said, “Just now, Kailash Gahlot has resigned from AAP and his ministerial position. He revealed how Aam Aadmi Party has now become a ‘Khaas Aadmi Party’. All the promises made to the people of Delhi have been broken, and the party has been engulfed in corruption”.