With just days left before the Delhi Assembly elections, eight Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs have resigned after being denied tickets to contest the upcoming polls. Their resignations come as a significant blow to the party, with accusations that AAP has deviated from its founding principles of corruption-free governance, transparency, and internal democracy.
In their resignation letters, the MLAs expressed disappointment over the party’s alleged shift towards centralization and opacity. The lawmakers who have stepped down include:
- Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli)
- Rohit Kumar (Trilokpuri)
- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar)
- Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri)
- Bhavna Gaud (Palam)
- Bhupinder Singh Joon (Bijwasan)
- Pawan Kumar Sharma (Adarsh Nagar)
- Girish Soni (Madipur)
Key Allegations and Statements:
- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar) and Bhavna Gaud (Palam) resigned from AAP’s primary membership, stating that they have “lost faith” in the party and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal.
- Rohit Kumar (Trilokpuri) accused AAP of neglecting the Dalit/Valmiki community, claiming that the party failed to fulfill promises such as ending contract employment.
- Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri) cited AAP’s departure from its core principles of corruption-free governance and accountability as his reason for quitting.
- Pawan Kumar Sharma (Adarsh Nagar) expressed sadness over the party’s deviation from its honest ideology.
- Bhupinder Singh Joon (Bijwasan) criticized AAP’s increasing centralization and lack of internal democracy, saying it had strayed from its original mission.
The Delhi Assembly elections are set for February 5, with the vote counting scheduled for February 8. The mass resignations could impact AAP’s performance as it faces backlash from former members and opposition parties.