Delhi AAP leader Rajesh Gupta breaks down after joining BJP, has ‘respect’ advice for Kejriwal | Watch
Rajesh Gupta, former MLA, quit the party to join BJP before MCD bypolls, criticising AAP's treatment of its members
A day before bypolls to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Aam Aadmi Party suffered a setback as its senior leader and former two-time MLA Rajesh Gupta quit the party and joined the BJP on Saturday.
Gupta, previously a national spokesperson and Karnataka incharge for AAP, was inducted into the BJP in the presence of Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, who welcomed him with the party stole, according to a statement from the Delhi BJP.
“They (AAP) don’t care about the people now who left their jobs during Anna Andolan… Many people want to leave (AAP), and I think they should. It’s not easy. They should go somewhere where they get respect; a party which doesn't use and throw their workers,” Gupta said.
"I was in the party, but their convenor neither spoke to me nor visited me," he said, adding, “Arvind ji, you will have to think about why people are leaving you. I always fought for you, even on television,” he added, speaking in Hindi.
He also spoke of personal compromises and his hard work for the party.
{{/usCountry}}He also spoke of personal compromises and his hard work for the party.
{{/usCountry}}Also Read | MCD bypolls: BJP, AAP name candidates
Rajesh Gupta on AAP's ‘use-and-throw policy'
{{/usCountry}}Also Read | MCD bypolls: BJP, AAP name candidates
Rajesh Gupta on AAP's ‘use-and-throw policy'
{{/usCountry}}BJP's Sachdeva said AAP leaders were now pointing to issues created during their own 12-year rule when questioning a BJP government that has been in power for just eight months.
{{/usCountry}}BJP's Sachdeva said AAP leaders were now pointing to issues created during their own 12-year rule when questioning a BJP government that has been in power for just eight months.
{{/usCountry}}Gupta alleged that the “biggest reason” behind the “downfall” of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal was the party’s practice of treating its workers in a “use and throw” fashion.
Rajesh Gupta became emotional as he recalled his years with AAP, alleged “mockery” he faced, and his experience with Kejriwal’s leadership, even breaking down at one point, speaking through sobs.
He added that when AAP was formed, many well-known individuals joined hands with Kejriwal but he had “betrayed everyone”, prompting them to leave one after another. “Today, unfortunately, I have also joined that list,” he said.
Gupta also claimed that in Ashok Vihar for the MCD contest, AAP has fielded a bypoll candidate who has previously received a notice from the party itself, and said his own concerns were dismissed.
Despite “years of sincerity, honesty and loyalty", he said the party leadership did not engage with him, even though AAP is currently not in power.
With Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia “missing entirely,” Sachdeva said AAP leaders Atishi and Gopal Rai are now only making “special appearances” during the bypoll campaign.
Also Read | AAP reacts to Rajesh Gupta’s ‘sob story’ after he joins BJP: ‘Was demanding ticket for his wife’
AAP responds to Gupta's exit and remarks
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj responded to Rajesh Gupta’s exit on the eve of the MCD bypolls, saying the former MLA left the party after being denied a councillor ticket for his wife.
In an interview to ANI, Bharadwaj extended his best wishes to Gupta and detailed the sequence of events that led to his switch to the BJP.
“Rajesh Gupta ji is our brother. The party made him contest the MLA election four times, but he could not win. He was demanding a councillor ticket for his wife in the Ashok Vihar by-election,” he told ANI.
"The party, with a heavy heart, decided not to go ahead with it. He discussed internal party matters with another party, and when that did not work, he finally joined the BJP. In anger, he left the party. Our best wishes to him," Bharadwaj added.
