Mon Nov 18 02:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Senior AAP Leader Kailash Gahlot Resigns, Expected to Join BJP

**NEW DELHI** – Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a significant blow days ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections with the resignation of senior leader and minister Kailash Gahlot. Gahlot, a two-time MLA representing Najafgarh and holding key portfolios including Transport, Women and Child Development, and Home, is widely expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contest the upcoming elections from his current constituency.

Gahlot’s resignation, while rumored since the Lok Sabha elections, has created considerable uncertainty within the AAP. In his resignation letter, he cited reasons including the party’s “constant fight against the Centre,” a perceived lack of focus on fulfilling electoral promises, internal political maneuvering, and disagreements over the Chief Minister’s house renovation.

However, AAP sources attribute his departure to growing dissatisfaction with the party leadership, particularly after the promotion of Atishi, a first-time MLA, to key ministerial positions following the arrests of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain. Gahlot, a seasoned minister, felt sidelined by this move. Further fueling speculation, Gahlot’s perceived closeness to the Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, also reportedly strained his relationship with the AAP leadership.

Gahlot’s departure is seen as a major setback for the AAP, potentially impacting their support among Jaat voters and hindering the rollout of their flagship “Mahila Samman Rashi” scheme, which he was instrumental in developing. The scheme, a key element of the AAP’s election campaign, promises monthly payments to women aged 18 and above. Gahlot’s leadership was also crucial in the implementation of several other key government initiatives.

While Gahlot previously pledged his loyalty to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his recent resignation suggests a significant shift in his political allegiances. His move is likely to reshape the political landscape in Delhi in the run-up to the crucial Assembly elections.

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