Kailash Gahlot, Delhi’s former Transport Minister and, till Sunday, one of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s senior-most leaders, crossed the aisle this morning to join rivals Bharatiya Janata Party, in the presence of Union Ministers ML Khattar and Harsh Malhotra. Mr Khattar described Mr Gahlot’s induction as a “turning point”, especially before the February Assembly election.
In his first comments after the jump, Mr Gahlot said, “This is not an easy step for me… I was a part of the AAP since the time of Anna Hazare (the anti-corruption activist whose popular movement birthed the AAP) and have worked for Delhi throughout… as MLA and minister.”
“Some may think this is an overnight decision… or due to pressure. But I want to tell them I haven’t ever taken any decision due to pressure,” Mr Gahlot told reporters, firmly rejecting speculation the move was the result of “pressure” from federal investigative agencies.
“There is a narrative I did this due to Central Bureau of Investigation or Enforcement Directorate pressure. I want to tell them (his critics) … since 2015, as AAP member. as MLA, and as Minister – I have never done anything due to pressure,” he said, hitting out at his former party instead.
“… the fact is, AAP compromised its values,” he declared, claiming “political ambitions” (seen as a swipe at talk of Mr Kejriwal as Prime Minister) had overtaken its commitment to the people.
Mr Gahlot was referring to repeated claims by the AAP and other opposition parties – that the BJP uses federal agencies, like the CBI or ED, to harass and intimidate rival political leaders, particularly before an election, to either destabilise or discredit and pick up extra votes.
The BJP has rubbished this claim, arguing the CBI and ED are independent agencies.
Mr Gahlot’s switch comes less than three months before an Assembly election widely expected to be a head-to-head between his former and current political masters. It also follows a reverse switch; the BJP’s Anil Jha, a two-time former MLA, joined the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit today.
The AAP has won three consecutive Delhi elections.
Kailash Gahlot was widely seen as one of Mr Kejriwal’s closest aides, particularly when the ex-Chief Minister was in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in the alleged liquor policy scam. And when Mr Kejriwal stepped down, after securing bail, Mr Gahlot was on the shortlist to replace the party boss.
But all of that seemed to unravel over the past few months, with his sacking as Law Minister seen as triggering the end of his relationship with the party. This was in December last year, after the Delhi government was juggling cabinet assignments after Manish Sisodia’s resignation.
The headline-grabbing element in the stand-off, though, was the rift over who would unfurl the national flag during the official Independence Day celebration in Delhi.
Mr Kejriwal, in jail then, delegated the task to Atishi – a choice that made clear her prominence in the party and sparked speculation she might be the one (as it so turned out) to replace him.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, however intervened, and handed the job to Mr Gahlot, who complied without any conciliatory words to Mr Kejriwal or Atishi.
In his resignation letter, Mr Gahlot has attributed his decision to the “dwindling credibility” of AAP on the issue of cleaning of Yamuna and ‘Sheeshmahal’ – a pejorative term used by the BJP for the chief minister’s renovated residence.
Mr Kejriwal has maintained silence on the resignation. At a press conference to welcome former BJP MLA Anil Jha to AAP, Mr Kejriwal was asked about Mr Gehlot’s sudden resignation. But the former Chief Minister refused to respond, passing the mic to senior party leader Durgesh Pathak, who was sitting next to him.
