What is behind Kailash Gehlot’s resignation from AAP and what is its relation with the Delhi liquor policy issue? Explained. mint

Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kailash Gehlot on Sunday resigned from the party and the government on November 17, months ahead of the scheduled assembly elections in the national capital.

Gehlot, MLA from Najafgarh and transport minister in the Atishi-led AAP government, is the second serving minister to leave the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and government this year. On April 10, Social Welfare Minister Raj Kumar Anand resigned.

There has been speculation of rift with Gehlot’s party for quite some time. He did not take part in the party’s campaign in the recently held Haryana elections. Gehlot’s departure is the culmination of his differences with the party and his resignation is related to the Delhi Liquor Policy issue.

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Gehlot’s discontent began soon after the arrest of then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy case in March 2023. Sisodia held 18 departments including health, education, revenue, electricity, water. Finance and home.

Sisodia’s ministries were distributed between Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi, who is now the Chief Minister of Delhi.

What is worse is that the Law and Justice department was also snatched away from Gehlot and given to Atishi. According to reports, this clearly indicates that the top leadership of the party does not have much confidence in Gehlot.

A leader, who did not wish to be named, said Gehlot, a two-time MLA and senior minister, probably did not like the promotion of first-time MLA Atishi with the responsibility of important departments in the government. And when Atishi became the chief minister, Gehlot felt that his importance in the government was diminishing, the leader said.

Proximity to LG

Gehlot was known to be close to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinay Kumar Saxena. The Lieutenant Governor participated in many programs of the Transport Department with Gehlot, whereas this was not the case with other AAP ministers.

Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was in jail at the time, had entrusted Atishi with the task of hoisting the flag on Independence Day, 2024. But Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena intervened and instead, asked Gehlot to complete the formalities. Ultimately Gehlot hoisted the tricolor.

In his resignation letter, Gehlot cited AAP’s “dwindling credibility” on the issue of cleaning of Yamuna and ‘Sheeshmahal’ – the term used by the BJP for the renovated residence of the Chief Minister – as the reasons for his resignation.

Gehlot is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contest the 2024 Delhi Assembly elections from Najafgarh seat. Soon after his resignation on Sunday, AAP took a ‘Modi washing machine’ jibe at the opposition BJP.

“Kailash Gehlot’s resignation is a part of BJP’s dirty politics and controversy. Pressure is being put on Kailash Gehlot through ED-CBI raids and he is speaking as per BJP’s script. Modi washing machine has become active before Delhi elections. Now through this many leaders will be included in BJP,” said AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.