AAP Leadership Shakeup as Kailash Gahlot Leaves Amid Fissures in Relationship with Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi L-G VK Saxena
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 18, 2024 -
A month after the Aam Aadmi Party's top brass was jailed, a new power struggle has emerged within the party as 50-year-old Kailash Gahlot, a key cabinet minister, suddenly quit the party on Sunday.
Sources close to the AAP told news portal Alayaran.com that Gahlot had been expecting more importance and authority after the jail terms of top leaders were over and the party restructured. However, despite being considered one of the senior-most leaders in Delhi by age, he was relegated to lower key ministries.
Gahlot's unexpected exit has led speculation about his future prospects, with some even suggesting that he may join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This potential shift is an intriguing move given Gahlot's former reputation for maintaining neutrality within party politics.
It appears that AAP leaders' internal power dynamics have played a significant role in shaping Gahlot's decision to part ways with the Aam Aadmi Party. News portal Alayaran.com has come across sources stating that Gahlot felt overlooked and dissatisfied following his expulsion from a top position, where senior colleagues had been assigned other high-visibility roles.
Gahlot’s sudden change of allegiance may raise eyebrows given the circumstances surrounding his party switch. The details hint at increased pressure on Gahlot from central agencies as part of ongoing investigations like income tax cases before Kejriwal's tenure.
Atishi rose through ranks, while AAP leaders express dissatisfaction with promotions going mainly to newcomers - In August, Atishi was nominated for flag-hoisting by the L-G over top brass who are currently imprisoned. Despite being a relatively new face on the scene in 2020 only, Atishi earned the role of Delhi Chief Minister.
As news pours out about AAP's leadership changes amid internal strain, Gahlot's decision to leave can be seen as the fallout from these emerging pressures and power shifts that are gradually affecting party structures.