HP elections 2022: Setback for AAP as state unit head, 2 others join BJP

New Delhi, April 9: As Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) starts its poll campaign in Himachal Pradesh, the party's state unit chief Anup Kesari joined the BJP along with two other party workers ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The former AAP leaders also expressed their disappointment with the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, while accusing him of "being ignorant" during a roadshow in the Mandi constituency a few days ago. General secretary organisation Satish Thakur and Una district chief Iqbal Singh, are the other two AAP leaders in Himachal Pradesh who joined Bharatiya Janata Party. The three leaders were inducted into BJP on Friday at the residence of JP Nadda in the national capital. Speaking about his jump to BJP ahead of assembly elections, Kesari said, "We have been working round the clock with utmost honesty and dedication for AAP for the past eight years in Himachal Pradesh. However, Arvind Kejriwal overlooked the state party workers when he came for a rally and roadshow in Mandi. In the hill state, AAP workers considered this ignorance as an insult and quit the party for self-respect." "We are very much disappointed with him (Kejriwal). He could not even turn his eyes towards us who work day and night for the party. Only Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann were the key highlights of the roadshow in Mandi," he added. After joining BJP, he also assured that Union Minister Anurag Thakur and party national chief JP Nadda are working harder for the party to bring it back to power in the upcoming Himachal elections in 2022. Also Read | Indian student shot dead in Toronto; Jaishankar expresses condolences Satish Thakur and Iqbal Singh also described the same reason for quitting AAP and said that the workers who had committed themselves to the party felt insulted by the Delhi and Punjab chief ministers during the roadshow in Mandi. "We felt insulted and ignored during the roadshow on April 6. So, we decided to join BJP to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and serve the people of Himachal Pradesh," Thakur stated. Singh added that "Only Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann participated in the roadshow. They did not bother about interacting with the party workers of Himachal Pradesh. They ignored and insulted us. Hence, we joined BJP." Anurag Thakur welcomed the AAP's top three leaders to the BJP, saying their presence and support will help the party retain power in Himachal Pradesh. During the roadshow, he also slammed Kejriwal for insulting his own party's workers. "On one side, Kejriwal talks about his party all the time, and on the other side, he overlooked and insulted his own dedicated workers. During the roadshow in Mandi, except CM Kejriwal and CM Mann, no one was allowed on the vehicle. No leader was given a place on the rath (vehicle). Their entry will strengthen our party," the BJP leader said. Notably, AAP is now eyeing Himachal Pradesh after a thumping victory in Punjab. Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will take place in December 2022, with AAP contesting in all 68 seats. Also Read | Covid booster dose for all adults at private vaccination centres from April 10 -PTC News