Mon Nov 18 07:32:37 UTC 2024: **Former AAP Minister Kailash Gahlot Defects to BJP**

NEW DELHI – Former Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, November 18, 2024. The high-profile defection occurred just a day after Gahlot resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), citing irreconcilable differences and accusing the party of prioritizing political ambition over serving the people of Delhi.

Gahlot’s resignation letter to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticized the party’s focus on internal political battles at the expense of delivering essential services. He specifically mentioned the ongoing conflict between the AAP government and the central government as a major impediment to progress.

The BJP welcomed Gahlot at its headquarters, with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar calling the move a “turning point” in Delhi’s political landscape. Gahlot’s addition to the BJP ranks follows the recent defections of two other former AAP ministers, Rajendra Pal Gautam and Raaj Kumar Anand. While Gautam joined the Congress, Anand joined the BJP earlier this year.

The AAP, however, alleges that Gahlot was forced out due to continuous harassment from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following accusations of irregularities, including alleged wrongdoing in the purchase of DTC low-floor buses. Gahlot had previously filed a defamation suit against BJP MLA Vijender Gupta regarding these allegations.

Gahlot, a former Supreme Court and Delhi High Court advocate, served as a Minister in the Delhi government since 2015, holding portfolios including Transport, Home, and Finance. His move significantly alters the political dynamics in Delhi ahead of future elections.

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