Gujarat BJP Leaders, Functionaries Join AAP. Kejriwal Says Saffron Party Members 'Have Lost Hope'

Several BJP leaders and functionaries in Gujarat, including the President of Karjan Municipal Corporation, joined AAP. Arvind Kejriwal termed it as the saffron party members losing hope from the outfit.

File Photo of AAP convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal

Source : PTI

Several key functionaries of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Gujarat joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday in the presence of senior AAP leaders Gopal Italia, Manoj Sorathiya, and Ram Dhaduk.  

According to AAP, the leaders who switched allegiance include Meenaben Chavda, the serving President of Karjan Municipal Corporation; Bharatsinh Atodariya, the Vice President; Vanrajsinh Raolji, the Standing Committee Chairman; Mohammad Sandha, a serving Councillor and former Standing Committee Chairman; Digvijaysinh Atodariya, the Leader of Opposition in the municipal corporation; and Prakashbhai Parmar, the Chairman of the Social Justice Committee.

Additionally, former Karjan Municipal Corporation President Manubhai Vasava, 10 BJP Councillors, and over 2,000 BJP volunteers and office bearers also joined AAP, as per the party.  

AAP convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal hailed the defections as a sign of BJP’s weakening hold in Gujarat. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “The fact that such a large number of BJP leaders are joining AAP in Gujarat, which is considered a BJP stronghold, shows that even BJP members have lost hope in their party. They also believe that only AAP can work for the welfare of the people. I welcome all the new members to the AAP family. Together, we will work for the people.”  

बीजेपी के गढ़ कहे जाने वाले गुजरात में इतनी बड़ी संख्या में BJP नेताओं का आम आदमी पार्टी जॉइन करना ये दिखाता है कि अब खुद बीजेपी के लोगों को भी अपनी पार्टी से कोई उम्मीद नहीं रही। वे भी मानते हैं कि जनता का भला सिर्फ़ आम आदमी पार्टी ही कर सकती है।

आम आदमी पार्टी परिवार में… https://t.co/zb7e8gJKM7

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 1, 2025

In another political development, Aakash Sharma, who runs the ‘Apna Purvanchal Parivar’ organisation, and Dimple Sharma, the BJP’s Rajinder Nagar Block President, also joined AAP in Delhi on Saturday.

चुनाव से पहले मज़बूत होता AAP परिवार ‼️

आज ‘अपना पूर्वांचल परिवार’ संस्था चलाने वाले आकाश शर्मा जी और BJP की Block President डिम्पल शर्मा जी आम आदमी पार्टी में शामिल हुई।

MCD प्रभारी एवं AAP विधायक @ipathak25 जी ने सभी का आम आदमी पार्टी में स्वागत किया। pic.twitter.com/wUSmUNR1lE

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 1, 2025

7 AAP MLAs Resign Ahead Of Delhi Polls Over Ticket Denial

This comes as the AAP suffered a setback in Delhi, with seven outgoing MLAs resigning from the party just five days ahead of the Assembly elections. The resignations came amid dissatisfaction over ticket distribution for the February 5 polls.  

According to sources cited by news agency PTI, the MLAs—Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Bhavna Gaur (Palam), Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Rohit Mehraulia (Trilokpuri), Pawan Sharma (Adarsh Nagar), B S Joon (Bijwasan), and Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri)—expressed their disappointment over being sidelined despite years of service. Several of them posted their resignation letters on social media, alleging corruption and internal issues within AAP.  

Madan Lal, speaking to PTI, confirmed the development, stating, “Seven AAP legislators, including me, have quit the party’s primary membership. We have also sent our resignation letters to Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel. We will soon share our future strategy.”  

Rituraj Jha, the Kirari MLA who was also denied a ticket, criticised the resigning MLAs, saying, “History will never forgive them. Kejriwal gave them everything and allowed them to represent their constituencies for 10 years.”  

As AAP fights to retain power for a third consecutive term in Delhi, the BJP is looking to stage a comeback after 25 years. The Delhi Assembly elections are set to take place on February 5, with results to be declared on February 8.