New Delhi: Citing unfulfilled promises and recent controversies surrounding the party, Delhi’s Transport Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Kailash Gahlot, resigned from the party’s primary membership on Sunday. He wrote a resignation letter addressing AAP’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.
Gahlot holds portfolios including Transport, Administrative Reforms, IT, Home, and Women & Child Development. He has also submitted his resignation to the Council of Ministers, Government of NCT of Delhi.
‘Failed to deliver a cleaner Yamuna…’
In the letter, he expressed dissatisfaction over the party’s inability to deliver on key pre-poll promises made to the people. He highlighted the failure to clean the Yamuna River. “We promised the people a cleaner Yamuna, but we have failed to deliver on that commitment,” he wrote.
He also mentioned about the controversy surrounding Arvind Kejriwal’s new official bungalow. “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 added. The minister also pointed at the ongoing tussle between the Centre and the Delhi governments. “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.
Was the resignation out of pressure due to ED, CBI probe?
The minister concluded the letter by stating that he had no choice left but to distance himself from the party. The resignation of Gahlot comes as a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party, especially ahead of the Delhi polls. The elections are likely to be held in February.
According to reports, Atishi has accepted the resignation of Kailash Gahlot. Gahlot was under investigation by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) and had previously faced raids by the ED and Income Tax Department, which might have led to his resignation, claimed an India Today report citing AAP sources.
