Kailash Gahlot Walks Out of AAP Amid Power Tussle and Party Leadership Vacuum

In a surprising turn of events, Kailash Gahlot, the 50-year-old MLA and cabinet minister who was part of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has left the party to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to sources.

Gahlot's decision comes amidst a power struggle within the party after its top leadership was arrested in March 2023, leading to a reshuffle. With the appointment of Atishi as the new chief minister, Gahlot had expected a better position and power, but things did not work out that way.

The AAP's leadership was missing from many key events where Gahlot was supposed to be present, including transport-related initiatives, while party chief Arvind Kejriwal was either behind bars or conspicuous absent. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also replaced the AAP chief on several occasions.

Moreover, when Gahlot was asked to hoist the national flag at a crucial Independence Day event last year, he was surprised by LG VK Saxena's decision, which bypassed Kejriwal and left many party members feeling neglected.

Furthermore, after Kejriwal resigned and Atishi took over as chief minister, Gahlot became increasingly dissatisfied with her selections for cabinet positions. "He felt that the decisions were made keeping newcomers like Atishi apart while senior AAP leaders like him sat in the waiting list without getting any better opportunities," a source revealed.

In an effort to avoid public differences and disputes within his team, as opposed to what transpired previously, Gahlot had also managed to cultivate good relationships with officials through back channel communication. However, despite these efforts, he couldn't cope with the party’s evolving dynamics and decided to leave.

It is worth noting that AAP leaders were unhappy with Atishi's nomination for various cabinet posts due to concerns regarding her inexperience at present compared against several other contenders who still awaited promotion opportunities. They also lamented Gahlot’s sidelining while being relatively senior to Atishi when Atishi took on high-profile roles.

Gahlot's abrupt departure has now added another page of conflict within the ailing AAP ranks, putting the party under even greater duress with several dissatisfied members reportedly questioning how he was not promoted ahead of someone considered new to the game.