New Delhi:

Senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot resigned from the party today, but the seeds of discord between Mr Gahlot and the AAP leadership were sown on August 15 over unfurling the national flag during the Delhi government’s Independence Day celebrations, sources have said. 

In the absence of the then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was in jail on charges linked to the alleged liquor policy scam, the task of unfurling the flag was under scrutiny. Mr Kejriwal had directed that Atishi, then the Delhi Education Minister, should perform the ceremonial duty. However, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena intervened, deeming the direction invalid and designating Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot for the job instead.

The Lt Governor’s decision was backed by the logic that the Home Department oversees Delhi Police, which organises the ceremonial march-past. This move, however, set off a fierce tug-of-war between the AAP-led Delhi government and the Lr Governor’s office.

The AAP accused the Lt Governor of undermining its authority, calling the move “petty politics.” Atishi slammed Ms Saxena’s decision, labelling it an act of “dictatorship” and questioning the BJP’s commitment to democracy. Mr Gahlot’s compliance with the Lt Governor’s directive appeared to strain his relationship with Mr Kejriwal and the AAP.

In December last year, the law department was taken from Mr Gahlot and handed over to Atishi. According to sources, there was a lot of work pending with the department which contributed in the decision to take it away from Mr Gahlot.

In his resignation letter, Mr Gahlot did not mince words. He described the controversies engulfing AAP as “embarrassing and awkward,” singling out the “Sheeshmahal” debacle – a term used to mock Mr Kejriwal’s residence expenditure – as an example of misplaced priorities.

“Let me start with sincerely thanking you for having given me the honour of serving and representing the people of Delhi as an MLA and a Minister. However, at the same time, I also want to share with you that today the Aam Aadmi Party faces grave challenges. Challenges from within, to the very values that brought us together to AAP,” Mr Gahlot’s letter read. 

“Political ambitions have overtaken our commitment towards people, leaving many promises unfulfilled. Take for example the Yamuna, which we had promised to transform into a clean river, but never got around to doing it. Now the Yamuna River is perhaps even more polluted than ever before. Apart from this, now there are many embarrassing and awkward controversies like the ‘Sheeshmahal’, which are now making everyone doubt whether we still believe in being Aam Aadmi.

“Another painful point has been the fact that instead of fighting for people’s rights we have increasingly only been fighting for our own political agenda. This has severely crippled our ability to even deliver basic services to the people of Delhi. It is now obvious that real progress for Delhi cannot happen if the Delhi Government spends the majority of its time fighting with the Centre,” the letter added.

The BJP seized the moment to target AAP. BJP leaders framed Mr Gahlot’s resignation as proof of AAP’s alleged failure to maintain internal cohesion or deliver on its promises to Delhi residents.

Kailash Gehlot today dealt a heavy blow to the Aam Aadmi Party after he resigned from the party, citing AAP’s “grave challenges” and “awkward” controversies in a letter to his senior colleague Arvind Kejriwal.

Here are 5 facts about Kailash Gahlot:

New Delhi:

In a massive setback to Aam Aadmi Party months ahead of Delhi Assembly polls, senior minister and long-term party leader Kailash Gahlot has resigned. Sources said he is likely to join the BJP. Mr Gahlot was in charge of key portfolios in the Delhi government, including Home, transport, IT and Women and Child Development. Chief Minister Atishi has accepted Mr Gahlot’s resignation.

In his resignation letter addressed to party convener Arvind Kejriwal, the 50-year-old leader has pointed to “grave challenges” AAP is facing from within. “Political ambitions have overtaken our commitment towards people, leaving many promises unfulfilled. Take for example the Yamuna, which we had promised to transform into a clean river, but never got around to doing it. Now the Yamuna River is perhaps even more polluted than ever before,” he has said.

pic.twitter.com/BxwMt3A85p

— Kailash Gahlot (@kgahlot) November 17, 2024

In an apparent swipe at Mr Kejriwal, he has referred to “many embarrassing and awkward controversies like the “Sheeshmahal” — a term used by the BJP to refer to the Chief Minister’s residence renovated during Mr Kejriwal’s term. Mr Gahlot has said such controversies “are now making everyone doubt whether we still believe in being the Aam Aadmi”.

READ: Kailash Gahlot: 5 Facts About Delhi Minister Who Has Quit AAP

Mr Gahlot’s mention of the ‘Sheeshmahal’ row is significant. The controversy surrounding the whopping expenditure of about Rs 45 crore on renovating the Chief Minister’s residence has repeatedly been raised by the BJP to hit out at AAP’s ‘Aam Aadmi’ plank. The AAP has maintained that the Chief Minister’s residence was built in 1942 and needed a complete overhaul. They have also said it was the Public Works Department that recommended the changes.

Mr Gahlot said AAP has been “fighting for own political agenda” and this has “severely crippled our ability to even deliver basic services to the people of Delhi”. “It is now obvious that real progress for Delhi cannot happen if the Delhi Government spends majority of its time fighting with the Centre,” he has said.

“I had started my political journey with the commitment to serve the people of Delhi and I want to continue doing that. Which is why, I fed myself left with no option but to step away from AAP and hence I resign from primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party. I wish you the best for your health and future,” he has written before signing off.

A lawyer, Mr Gahlot represents the Nazafgarh Assembly constituency. He has been a cabinet minister since 2015. Following former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s arrest in a corruption case last year, he had also handled the important finance portfolio.

The BJP was quick to respond to Mr Gahlot’s announcement. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Mr Gahlot has detailed how “Aam Aadmi Party has become Khaas (special) Aadmi Party”. “They have broken all promises they made to people. AAP has become Arvind Aadmi Party. Their leader has exposed them.”

Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva said Mr Gahlot had taken a “bold step”. “I congratulate him. This proves that even people in Arvind Kejriwal’s party believe that he has misused Delhi taxpayers’ money for Sheeshmahal. No honest person who loves Delhi will work with the robbers’ gang led by Arvind Kejriwal,” he said. Mr Sachdeva added that the party will welcome Mr Gahlot if he wants to join BJP.    

The exit of a senior minister such as Kailash Gahlot, given that AAP had entrusted him with key portfolios such as Home and Finance, is a big blow ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, due early next year. Mr Kejriwal has stepped down as Chief Minister after the Supreme Court granted him bail following his arrest in a corruption case. He has said he will take up the Chief Minister’s role only after the “people’s verdict”. Ms Atishi has now taken over as Chief Minister.