The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a massive jolt on Saturday as three of its senior leaders—Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, and Sandeep Pathak—announced their resignation from the party, citing growing differences with party chief Arvind Kejriwal's leadership style and decision-making process.
Mass Exodus Hits AAP Ahead of Delhi Elections
The resignations come at a critical time when AAP is gearing up for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, expected early next year. The departure of these prominent leaders is being viewed as a major setback for the party, which has already been grappling with internal dissent and a series of defections in recent months.
Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP and one of the party's key strategists, was among the first to announce his exit. In a statement, Chadha said he was leaving the party with a heavy heart but felt that the party had strayed from its core principles. He accused the leadership of becoming increasingly autocratic and ignoring the voices of grassroots workers.
Ashok Mittal, a former Delhi minister and senior party leader, also resigned, alleging that Kejriwal had sidelined experienced leaders and surrounded himself with yes-men. Mittal was a prominent face of the party in the national capital and had held several key portfolios in the Delhi government.
Sandeep Pathak, another Rajya Sabha MP and a close aide of Kejriwal, surprisingly also quit, citing disillusionment with the party's direction. Pathak was instrumental in the party's expansion to other states, including Punjab and Goa.
BJP Welcomes AAP Leaders
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly reached out to the disgruntled AAP leaders. Sources indicate that Chadha, Mittal, and Pathak may join the BJP in the coming days, further strengthening the ruling party's position in Delhi. The BJP has been aggressively targeting AAP over corruption allegations and governance failures.
Political analysts believe that this exodus could trigger a chain reaction, with more AAP leaders likely to follow suit. The party has already seen several MLAs and councillors switch to the BJP and Congress in recent months.
Kejriwal's Response
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, in a brief response, downplayed the resignations, calling them a natural part of politics. He said that the party was strong enough to withstand such setbacks and that those who left were motivated by personal ambitions rather than ideological differences. However, internal party sources admit that the leadership is worried about the growing dissent.
The resignations also come amid speculation that former Delhi minister Swati Maliwal and cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh may also quit AAP soon. Both have been reportedly unhappy with the party's functioning.
Impact on Delhi Polls
The timing of the resignations could not be worse for AAP, which is already facing a tough battle against a resurgent BJP and a reinvigorated Congress. The party's vote bank in Delhi has been shrinking, and the loss of senior leaders is likely to demoralize its cadre.
With the elections just months away, AAP will have to quickly regroup and address the internal discontent to prevent further damage. The party is expected to hold a series of meetings to pacify the remaining leaders and workers.
