Delhi’s Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), delivering a significant blow to the party just months ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
Gahlot, a senior leader and long-serving minister, expressed gratitude for his time with AAP but criticized the party for failing to uphold its founding values and address critical issues like cleaning the Yamuna River. He also highlighted internal challenges and controversies, including the “Sheeshmahal” episode, which he said have eroded public trust.
In his resignation letter, Gahlot wrote, “The Aam Aadmi Party faces grave internal challenges. Political ambitions have overshadowed our commitment to the people, leaving many promises unfulfilled. For instance, we pledged to clean the Yamuna, yet it remains more polluted than ever. Controversies like ‘Sheeshmahal’ only deepen public skepticism about whether we still stand for the *aam aadmi*.”
He added that the party’s inability to focus on governance and its ongoing conflicts with the central government have hindered real progress in Delhi.
In a letter addressed to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, shared on X, Gahlot also resigned from the party’s primary membership, stating, “I began my political journey to serve the people of Delhi, but the party’s current direction leaves me with no option but to step away.”
Gahlot’s departure marks a challenging moment for AAP as it gears up for the upcoming elections.
