Following the distribution of portfolios which were under ex Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot has resigned from the AAP, marking a severe deepening of internal tension which has developed in the party. Sisodia is in jail in the Delhi liquor policy case; there were 18 vitals he is unlikely to manage: health, education, finance, home, and 15 others. Most of them were redeployed to Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi, the later who is now Chief Minister.
Leaks suggest that the breakdown in the relationship between Gahlot and AAP headquarters started in December when the Law and Justice Department, which Gahlot oversees, was transferred to Atishi. Political rivals and other observers understand this move as an indication of the fact that top leadership in the party has lost trust in Gahlot. The discord was further escalated to a principal level, regarding the Independence Day flag hoisting issue of behaving, Saxena unilaterally decided on Gahlot for the hoisting instead of Atishi who was earlier selected by Kejriwal, the CM.
Criticising AAP, Gahlot said in his resignation letter that the party had ‘very less credibility left’ Then, Gahlot raised questions over the party’s mismanagement on issues such as the revival of River Yamuna, renovation of Chief Minister’s residence, a house fondly called ‘Sheeshmahal’. The reaction that has followed his exit has been sharp, especially among the senior members of AAP. Sanjay Singh alleged that Gahlot has succumbed to BJP-supported probe, surveys including raids by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department. Singh accused Gahlot of now “implementing the BJP game plan” in the context of the Delhi elections.
Still, such allegations have not delivered any response from the former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. When providing a statement on the after formally inducting the former BJP MLA Anil Jha into AAP, Kejriwal did not shed any light on the exit of Gahlot but instead left it to the deputy state convenor Durgesh Pathak to answer. Pathak repeated the accusations of political pressuring by central agencies; he also accused Gahlot of capitulating to BJP demands, which added to intrigue about a split within the Congress.
Gahlot had tendered his resignation at a time when AAP is preparing for the Delhi assembly elections. Some of the corresponding difficulties that the resignation illustrates includes; rising internal problems as well as external political hurdles that the party has to deal with; thus, this may lead to more defections, additional scrutiny.
