Kailash Gahlot, a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and minister in the Delhi Government, has resigned, citing deep concerns over the party’s direction and internal challenges, saying that the political ambitions within the party have overshadowed its core commitment to serving the people.
Gahlot criticized the shift in the party’s focus from advocating for the rights of the people to advancing its own political agenda, a shift he said had hindered AAP’s ability to deliver basic services to the residents of Delhi.
In a letter to AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, Kailash Gahlot said, “Let me start by sincerely thanking you for having given me the honour of serving and representing the people of Delhi as an MLA and a Minister. However, at the same time, I also want to share with you that today the Aam Aadmi Party faces grave challenges. Challenges from within, to the very values that brought us together to AAP.”
“Political ambitions have overtaken our commitment towards people, leaving many promises unfulfilled. Take, for example, the Yamuna, which we had promised to transform into a clean river, but never got around to doing it. Now the Yamuna River is perhaps even more polluted than ever before. Apart from this, now there are many embarrassing and awkward controversies like the ‘Sheeshmahal,’ which are now making everyone doubt whether we still believe in being the Aam Aadmi.”
“Another painful point has been the fact that instead of fighting for people’s rights, we have increasingly only been fighting for our own political agenda. This has severely crippled our ability to even deliver basic services to the people of Delhi. It is now obvious that real progress for Delhi cannot happen if the Delhi Government spends the majority of its time fighting with the Centre,” Gahlot said in the letter.
Gahlot emphasized that his political journey began with a commitment to serve the people of Delhi, and he intends to continue that mission.
He also extended his best wishes to the AAP leadership for their health and future, while thanking his party colleagues and well-wishers for their support during his tenure.
(Ani)