"No pressure behind my decision": Kailash Gahlot on joining BJP from AAP

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Kailash Gahlot, Delhi's former Transport Minister and a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) this morning in the presence of Union Ministers ML Khattar and Harsh Malhotra. Khattar described Gahlot's induction as a "turning point," especially with the upcoming February elections.

In his first comments after switching sides, Gahlot emphasized that his decision was not made lightly. "This is not an easy step for me... I was with AAP since the time of Anna Hazare’s movement and have worked for Delhi as an MLA and minister," he said. He firmly rejected the speculation that his move was the result of external pressure, particularly from central investigative agencies like the CBI or Enforcement Directorate. "Some may think this is an overnight decision or due to pressure, but I have never taken a decision under pressure," Gahlot stated, adding that the narrative surrounding his resignation was false.

Gahlot criticized AAP, claiming that the party had "compromised its values" and allowed "political ambitions" to overshadow its commitment to the people. His comments appeared to target AAP’s focus on national politics, particularly speculation surrounding Arvind Kejriwal’s prime ministerial ambitions. This critique echoes accusations by opposition parties that the BJP uses federal agencies to harass rivals and influence elections, which the BJP has denied, arguing that the CBI and ED are independent bodies.

Responding to his former colleagues who suggested he had succumbed to pressure, Gahlot maintained that his resignation was a result of AAP’s "dwindling credibility." He has continued to remain critical of the party's leadership, particularly its handling of various issues in recent months.

Kejriwal, so far, has refrained from commenting directly on Gahlot’s resignation. At a public event on Sunday, when asked about Gahlot, Kejriwal passed the microphone to senior AAP leader Durgesh Pathak. Pathak, speaking on behalf of the party, said Gahlot had been questioned and raided by authorities for several months, and some within AAP claimed Gahlot could not withstand the pressure and chose to leave.

Gahlot’s departure marks the culmination of a growing rift between him and AAP, which had been building over several months. His sacking as Law Minister in December, after the resignation of Manish Sisodia, was seen as the final straw in his relationship with the party. The tension also escalated during a dispute over who would unfurl the national flag at Delhi’s official Independence Day ceremony. While Kejriwal, who was in jail at the time, had delegated the task to Atishi, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor intervened and assigned the duty to Gahlot. His compliance with the decision without any public remarks created further friction within the party.

A lawyer by profession, Gahlot has represented the Najafgarh Assembly seat since 2015. His defection to the BJP comes just months before the high-stakes Delhi Assembly election, where his shift could have significant political implications.