New Delhi [India]: In the lead-up to the Delhi Assembly polls, several prominent leaders and workers from Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence of Chief Minister Atishi on Saturday.
According to an official release, the new members include Mamta Verma, former Congress corporation councilor candidate from Wazirpur, Banwari Lal Upadhyay and Mohammad Ikram, former Congress corporation candidates from Kirari, and Bhumika Singh, former BJP corporation councilor candidate from Seemapuri, among others.
Welcoming the leaders, CM Atishi highlighted AAP’s achievements and the public response to their governance. “People are joining Aam Aadmi Party after seeing our work, such as free electricity and water, excellent government schools and hospitals, free women’s bus travel, and other initiatives,” she said.
The Chief Minister attributed the growing support for AAP to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s style of governance and honest politics. “Influenced by Arvind Kejriwal’s politics, the convoy of Aam Aadmi Party is increasing day by day. People from every part of Delhi are joining Aam Aadmi Party,” she added.
Atishi pointed to AAP’s governance successes as the driving force behind the influx of members. “Today, Delhi gets 24-hour electricity with zero bills for many, government schools outperform private schools, free medicines and treatments are available at Mohalla Clinics, and senior citizens enjoy free pilgrimages. These are the reasons why many senior Congress leaders from Wazirpur and Kirari assembly constituencies are joining AAP,” she explained.
Highlighting individual defections, she noted the significance of Banwari Lal Upadhyay’s shift. “Banwari Lal Upadhyay, a PCC delegate of Delhi Congress and two-time MCD election contender, has been with Congress for 40 years but is now joining AAP,” she said.
Similarly, former BJP Mahila Morcha District General Secretary and corporation candidate from Sundar Nagri Ward 218, Bhumika Singh, also joined AAP, citing Arvind Kejriwal’s honest governance as her reason for switching allegiance.
The Delhi Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes scheduled for February 8. This latest wave of political defections highlights the intensifying competition among parties in the run-up to the elections.