Aam Aadmi Party Minister Kailash Gahlot Quits Amid Power Struggle, Scrambles to Join BJP

New Delhi: Amid an apparent power struggle within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Deputy Chief Minister and MLA Kailash Gahlot has announced his resignation from the party. Sources have revealed that Gahlot had been on edge for two years due to pressure from central agencies and was expecting a better position in the party post the top leadership's arrest.

Gahlot, 50, was a senior minister until Sunday and had held multiple portfolios including law, justice, and legislative affairs, and revenue. Despite being one of the most experienced leaders in the AAP, he lost his senior-most ministries after three of his colleagues were arrested on corruption charges.

His exit marks another significant blow to the already reeling AAP, which has been facing infighting and factional politics since its inception. The party's latest leadership reshuffle was marked by Atishi Goyal's appointment as Delhi Chief Minister, a move that did not sit well with some senior AAP leaders who felt snubbed.

"A certain system that should be followed in the party cannot be compromised. You cannot give so much power to newcomers while those with experience are left awaiting better opportunities," an AAP leader confided on anonymity.

With Gahlot's departure, the AAP has lost another key figure. His tenure as Deputy Chief Minister was marked by relative calm compared to his vocal colleagues like Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who engaged in public spats with the Delhi and Central governments over issues like corruption and accountability.

Gahlot, known for taking a lower profile than his more outspoken cabinet colleagues, had managed to maintain good relations with the administration. However, this was not enough to keep him in AAP, where the top leadership has been increasingly criticized by its members for internal struggles and conflicts of loyalty towards both the party's ideals and personal interests.

As Gahlot has joined the ranks of several senior AAP leaders who quit the party post the arrest of the top brass, there are growing speculations about whether or not he would join BJP.