Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of once again betraying the people of Punjab, following the resignation of seven AAP Rajya Sabha members from the party. In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, Kejriwal said the mass exodus was orchestrated by the BJP to destabilize AAP in the state.
Kejriwal's Reaction
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kejriwal wrote: "BJP once again betrayed people of Punjab." He alleged that the resignations were part of a larger conspiracy by the ruling party at the Centre to weaken AAP's presence in Punjab, where the party is in power. The chief minister did not name the MPs who resigned but confirmed that seven members of the Rajya Sabha had left the party fold.
Details of Resignations
According to sources, the seven MPs include some prominent faces who have been with AAP since its early days. Party insiders revealed that the resignations came amid growing discontent over the leadership style and policy decisions within the party. The development is seen as a major setback for AAP, which had won a significant number of Rajya Sabha seats from Punjab in recent years.
Other Key Departures
In addition to the seven MPs, AAP Rajya Sabha member and former Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, as well as former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who had joined the party earlier, have also reportedly quit the party. While Maliwal has been a vocal critic of the party leadership in recent months, Harbhajan's departure comes as a surprise to many.
Political Implications
The resignations are likely to have significant political ramifications in Punjab, where AAP is already facing challenges from the opposition Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal. The BJP, which is not a major force in the state, may attempt to capitalize on the situation by wooing the disgruntled AAP leaders. Political analysts believe that the exodus could weaken AAP's organizational strength in the state ahead of the next assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the BJP has dismissed Kejriwal's allegations, calling them baseless. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the resignations were a result of internal differences within AAP and had nothing to do with the BJP. He added that the people of Punjab had seen through Kejriwal's "politics of lies and deception."
The development comes at a time when AAP is also facing scrutiny over its governance record in Punjab, with critics pointing to issues such as law and order, unemployment, and drug trafficking. The party has defended its performance, claiming that it has brought about significant improvements in the state's education and healthcare sectors.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes are on whether more AAP leaders will follow suit and what impact this will have on the party's prospects in Punjab and beyond.
