Arvind Kejriwal reacts to Kailash Gahlot joining BJP: "He can go wherever he wants

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): As Kailash Gahlot, the former Delhi minister, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Arvind Kejriwal, National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), stated on Monday that Gahlot is free to make his own decisions.

When asked about Gahlot’s move to the BJP, Kejriwal remarked, "He is free; he can go wherever he wants." On Sunday, Gahlot had submitted his resignation letter to Kejriwal, citing unfulfilled promises and recent controversies as reasons for his decision to quit the party. Gahlot, the MLA from Najafgarh and a former close aide to Kejriwal, stepped down from his position in the council of ministers, and his resignation was later accepted by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.

In his resignation letter, Gahlot criticized AAP for failing to deliver on key commitments, particularly the promise to clean the Yamuna River. He expressed disappointment, stating, “We promised the people a cleaner Yamuna, but we have failed to deliver on that commitment.” He also referred to the controversy surrounding Kejriwal's new official residence, calling issues like the Sheeshmahal debacle "embarrassing and bizarre," and questioned whether the party still represented the common man.

In response to Gahlot’s resignation, senior AAP leader Durgesh Pathak suggested that Gahlot had been under pressure from central investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department for several months. Pathak implied that Gahlot's decision to quit was a result of his inability to withstand this pressure.