Kailash Gahlot Resigns from AAP
The resignation of Kailash Gahlot, a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi Minister, has sparked significant political discourse, with sources pointing to an incident on August 15 as the root cause of the discord between him and the party leadership. Gahlot’s resignation letter was sharp and candid, calling the controversies surrounding AAP “embarrassing and awkward.” He also expressed frustration with the party’s current direction, which he felt had shifted away from its original values and commitment to the people of Delhi.
The rift between Gahlot and AAP began on August 15 during the Delhi government’s Independence Day celebrations. At that time, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was in jail due to his involvement in the alleged liquor policy scam, and the task of unfurling the national flag at the ceremony was left to be decided. Kejriwal had instructed that Atishi, the then Delhi Education Minister, should perform this ceremonial duty. However, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena intervened, overruling Kejriwal’s decision and assigning the responsibility to Kailash Gahlot, the Delhi Home Minister.
The LG’s decision was justified by the fact that the Home Department is responsible for overseeing the Delhi Police, which organizes the Independence Day march-past. However, this move led to a major standoff between the AAP-led Delhi government and the LG’s office, with AAP accusing the LG of undermining the government’s authority and indulging in “petty politics.” Atishi, who had been sidelined, called the intervention “dictatorship” and criticized the BJP for its lack of commitment to democracy. Gahlot’s compliance with the LG’s directive did not sit well with Kejriwal and the AAP leadership, creating tension within the party.
Further straining Gahlot’s relationship with the AAP leadership, in December of the previous year, the law department, which had been under Gahlot’s charge, was handed over to Atishi. Sources claim that this was due to pending work in the department, which led to the decision to reassign the portfolio.
In his resignation letter, Gahlot outlined several grievances, particularly criticizing the party’s current internal dynamics. He expressed disappointment with the growing political ambitions within the party, which he felt had overtaken its commitment to serving the people. He pointed to unfulfilled promises, such as the failure to clean the Yamuna River, which was a major part of AAP’s election manifesto. Gahlot also highlighted the ongoing controversies surrounding the party, including the “Sheeshmahal” debacle, a term coined to mock the extravagant expenditure on Kejriwal’s residence, which further eroded the party’s credibility.
Gahlot’s letter concluded with a somber reflection on how the AAP had shifted focus from serving the people of Delhi to pursuing its own political agenda. He remarked that this had severely hampered the party’s ability to deliver basic services to the public, making it clear that real progress for Delhi would be impossible if the government continued to fight with the Centre rather than focusing on governance.
This resignation, coming on the heels of several controversies, marks a significant development in the ongoing power struggle within AAP and raises questions about the party’s future direction.
