Ex AAP minister Kailash Gehlot joins BJP, a day after quitting Aam Aadmi Party ahead of Delhi assembly elections

PTC News Desk: In a major setback to AAP supreme, former Delhi minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kailash Gehlot has joined saffron party a day after quitting AAP. Gehlot represents Najafgarh constituency in the Delhi legislative assembly. 

Speaking on his resignation from the AAP, Kailash Gahlot said that it was not an easy step for him.

"This was not an easy step for me. I have been associated with AAP since the days of Anna Ji and have consistently worked for the people of Delhi. To everyone who thinks that I made this decision under pressure, I want to say that I have never done anything under pressure. This is not a decision taken in just one day. I left my legal career to join AAP, and all of us were united by an ideology. Our sole purpose was to serve the people of Delhi," he said.

Gehlot was considered a close associate of  AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal who left the party along with resigning from the council of ministers with immediate effect. As ex-Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that Gahlot is free to make his own decisions. 

In his resignation letter, Gehlot slammed the party for its incompetence to  fulfill key promises. He also highlighted the party's pledge to clean Yamuna river which is engulfed in a toxic layer of foam  describing it as a commitment the party had made to voters. “We promised the people a cleaner Yamuna, but we have failed to deliver on that commitment,” he wrote.

He also mentioned the controversy over Arvind Kejriwal’s new official residence. “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 said.