A major blow to AAP ahead of MCD by-elections, two-time former MLA Rajesh Gupta joins BJP:

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major setback just ahead of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) by-elections. Senior AAP leader and former MLA Rajesh Gupta joined the BJP on Saturday (November 29). There was no immediate reaction from AAP on this development.

Rajesh Gupta has held high positions in the party

Gupta, a two-time AAP MLA, was also the party's national spokesperson and in-charge of the party's Karnataka unit. He joined the BJP in the presence of Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A statement issued by the Delhi unit of the BJP said that Sachdeva welcomed Gupta to the BJP. Sachdeva said that AAP leaders are now listing the shortcomings and problems in Delhi that arose during their party's 12-year rule and yet they are questioning the eight-month-old BJP government.

Emotional while leaving the party

Rajesh Gupta alleged that the "biggest reason" behind the "downfall" of AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal was the "use-and-throw" attitude towards workers. While joining the BJP, Rajesh Gupta became emotional, even teary-eyed, as he recalled his contributions to AAP, the ridicule he received in return, and the behavior of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

Rajesh Gupta said that when AAP was formed, many prominent people happily supported Arvind Kejriwal, but he "betrayed everyone" and one by one, they all left him. He added, "Today, unfortunately, I have also joined that list."

He claimed that the AAP had given a ticket for the by-election in the Ashok Vihar ward to a person to whom the party itself had issued a notice. He said, "Despite my years of honesty, truthfulness, and integrity, when I raised concerns, the party chief was unwilling to even talk to me. This is despite the party being in power neither in Delhi nor in the MCD." Gupta claimed that the "use and throw" attitude towards workers was the biggest reason for the downfall of Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP.

What did Virendra Sachdeva say?

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that Rajesh Gupta had distinguished himself as a responsible MLA, but Arvind Kejriwal failed to honor that reputation. He said that Kejriwal's disappearance from Delhi after losing the assembly elections, and the circumstances under which he left, should be thoroughly investigated. Sachdeva said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are completely absent, while AAP leaders Atishi and Gopal Rai are only making "special appearances" in Delhi. He was referring to campaigning for the Delhi Municipal Corporation by-elections.