With just five days left for the Delhi Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a major setback as seven of its sitting MLAs resigned after being denied tickets to contest in the upcoming polls. The resigning MLAs are Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Rohit Kumar (Trilokpuri), Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri), Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Pawan Sharma (Adarsh Nagar), Bhawna Goud (Palam), and BS Joon (Bijwasan).
The wave of resignations started with BS Joon, Bijwasan, who was the first one to submit his resignation. This was then shared by the rest of the 6 MLAs who aired their frustrations with the party delegation. In her resignation letter, Bhawna Goud from Palam directly addressed party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, stating, “I have lost faith in you.”
Resigning MLAs and Their Allegations
- Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli) – Resigned citing “growing corruption” within AAP and accused the party of abandoning its founding principles of honesty and transparency.
- Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri) – Criticized AAP for betraying its commitment to corruption-free governance.
- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar) – Stated that all seven MLAs had resigned from AAP’s primary membership and submitted their letters to Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.
- Bhawna Goud (Palam) – Expressed disappointment and loss of faith in Kejriwal.
- Rohit Kumar (Trilokpuri) – Upset over being denied a ticket, leading to his decision to quit.
- BS Joon (Bijwasan) – The first among the group to resign, setting off a chain reaction.
- Pawan Sharma (Adarsh Nagar) – Also decided to step down after not receiving a ticket.
Frustration Over Ticket Denial
The main reason for the MLAs’ resignation was their denial of a place on AAP’s nomination for the 2025 Assembly schedule. Leadership of the party decided to present fresh candidates in their constituencies which caused dissatisfaction among the existing MLAs. As reported, a few of the resigning members had previously broken ties with other political entities before announcing their formal withdrawal.
Naresh Yadav, the MLA from Mehrauli, in his resignation letter took it to the next level, alleging that AAP has “merged itself with the mire of corruption. He claimed that the party no longer upholds the values it once stood for and has strayed from its original mission.
Also, Rajesh Rishi of Janakpuri expressed his reservations charging the party with the violation of its principles and shift in course from its intention of good governance. These accusations have triggered some crucial issues regarding the internal functioning of the party and the stringency it holds in promoting transparency.
Election Timeline and AAP’s Response
The resignation of seven MLAs takes place at a very sensitive time for AAP, as Delhi is about to have elections on February 5, and counting is scheduled on February 8. With these advances, AAP’s leadership is under greater pressure to control ideological dissent within the party, and to maintain a successful electoral standing, despite the controversy.
As of the present time, the party has not made any official response on the resignations. But political commentators say that these departures may affect the future prospects, including the constituencies, where new AAP candidates are introduced.
Next elections to Delhi will be much scrutinized, more so in the context of high profile departures and charges leveled against AAP’s top brass. Whether the resigning MLAs go to another political party or contest independently will be seen later still, but their exit has certainly ushered in a new challenge for the Arvind Kejriwal government.
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