AAP Councillor Pawan Sehrawat Joins BJP, Says He Felt 'Suffocated' By Corruption In Party

Sehrawat alleged that he was in distress as the AAP councillors were instructed to create a ruckus in the MCD House meeting.

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Pawan Sehrawat joined the BJP on Friday alleging that he felt "suffocated" due to "corruption" in the party led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Bawana councillor made the announcement just minutes before the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House meeting, according to PTI. 

Soon after joining BJP, Sehrawat alleged that he was in distress as the AAP councillors were instructed to create a ruckus in the MCD House meeting.

The AAP councillor was welcomed to the party at its Delhi unit office by BJP working president Virendra Sachdeva and general secretary Harsh Malhotra along with several Delhi BJP leaders who were present on the occasion. 

Welcoming Sehrawat to BJP, Sachdeva on Friday tweeted, "Impressed by the development works of the Modi government and troubled by the hooliganism, corruption and oppressive policies of the Kejriwal government, Aam Aadmi Party councilor from Bawana Ward-30 Mr. Pawan Sehrawat joined the BJP. Hearty welcome to the BJP family.” He also shared some photos from the celebration. 

Malhotra claimed that there was “dissent” among AAP councillors and that is why they were instructed to carry mobile phones while voting for standing committee members to check cross-voting. 

Meanwhile, the House of MCD, which was adjourned 15 times on Wednesday and Thursday, reconvened around 10 am on Friday for elections of six members of the standing committee.

The MCD House witnessed high drama punctuated by as many as 15 adjournments from Wednesday evening through the night till early Thursday morning, with both AAP and BJP councillors indulging in brawls, slogan shouting and staying put in the MCD headquarters.

The issue rose on Wednesday during the election of the six members of the Standing Committee. Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi allowed the use of mobile phones in the Standing Committee voting. The BJP protested against the use of mobiles, saying it would violate the secrecy of the ballot. Voting continued amid ruckus in the House. However, voting came to a standstill after the 47th vote.