AAP Infighting: Kailash Gahlot's Shocking Decision To Quit Party Amid Power Struggle
In a stunning move, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kailash Gahlot on Sunday announced that he is leaving the party to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing unrelenting pressure from central agencies and a lack of power and respect from party leadership.
Sources close to Gahlot revealed that it was not just his dissatisfaction with party chief Arvind Kejriwal's handling of affairs that led him to make this decision but also the relegation of senior AAP leaders who had been loyal to him for years. When Kejriwal announced Atishi as the new chief minister, many senior AAP leaders were disappointed and felt that they had been overlooked.
As news emerged on Monday morning, speculation was rife over which party Gahlot would join, with some speculating that it could be the BJP. Gahlot, who is 50 years old, has a long history of public service having served as an MLA, Cabinet Minister and Home Minister in the AAP government.
Despite being given key ministries by Kejriwal after two senior cabinet ministers were arrested, Gahlot's position remained tenuous due to lack of powers. In February this year, another key minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was demoted in favour of a newcomer Atishi.
Sources said that while the AAP party is on top right now with Kejriwal at the helm, internal power struggles among the old guard could eventually make them weak and vulnerable to central pressures. However, the emergence from this situation unscathed remains yet to be seen.
It has been over three years since Gahlot joined the Aam Aadmi Party, when he shifted from the Indian National Congress. Since then, he has never wavered in his commitment to AAP's ideals and worked diligently within his role. Despite the growing factional rivalries and the dwindling powers of top leaders, Gahlot remained steadfast.
The most recent incident occurred last month when Kejriwal snubbed L-G Saxena at several high-level events, while Gahlot stood in contrast by continuing to attend such meetings accompanied by Saxena, despite several key AAP leaders being absent from the same places with similar seniority that he had once held.
Gahlot's leadership was well respected within the party but according to sources Gahlot will continue his fight for power without becoming a leader though, it is now certain he won't be able to do so as an Aam Aadmi Party Chief.
Atishi rises to stature
Kailash Gahlot was quiet and never made headlines through name-calling or public complaints unlike several other senior AAP leaders. What sets him apart from rest of them? The answer lies in his ability to work with officers without citing problems, unlike many others who face the same issues.