New Delhi, Jan 31, 2025 – In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, seven sitting MLAs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) resigned on Friday, citing their dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership and decision-making.
The legislators—Rohit Mehraulia (Trilokpuri), Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri), Bhavna Gaur (Palam), Bhupender Singh June (Bijwasan), and Pawan Kumar Sharma (Adarsh Nagar)—announced their resignations after being denied tickets for the February 5 elections. The results are scheduled to be declared on February 8.
Resigning MLAs Criticize Party’s Governance
Several of the departing MLAs expressed their disappointment over what they described as AAP’s failure to fulfill its promises and its deviation from its founding principles.
Rohit Mehraulia, the MLA from Trilokpuri, criticized the party for not addressing key issues affecting the Dalit/Valmiki community. He accused AAP of leveraging their support for political gains while neglecting commitments such as regularizing temporary staff and ending contract employment.
Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar) and Bhavna Gaur (Palam) cited a “loss of faith” in AAP and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, as their primary reason for resigning. Similarly, Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri) alleged that the party had abandoned its core principles of transparency, accountability, and corruption-free governance.
Pawan Kumar Sharma (Adarsh Nagar) lamented AAP’s deviation from its original ideology, stating, “It is disheartening to witness the state of the party today.”
Bhupender Singh June (Bijwasan) echoed similar concerns, highlighting the party’s increasing centralization and lack of internal democracy. “AAP was founded on the principles of ethical governance and transparency, but over time, it has become increasingly opaque and centralized,” he stated in his resignation letter.
AAP’s Electoral Challenge
AAP, which secured sweeping victories in the last two assembly elections—winning 67 out of 70 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020—now faces an uphill battle to maintain its dominance in Delhi. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has struggled to regain power in the capital for nearly three decades, is seeking a resurgence. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years before AAP’s rise, has failed to win a single seat in the last two elections.
Kejriwal’s Campaign Strategy
Amid the intensifying election campaign, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal has focused on highlighting his government’s welfare schemes. On Friday, he claimed that a family of 18 in Delhi could save up to ₹50,000 per month through various government initiatives, including free electricity, education, healthcare, and transport benefits for women.
As part of the newly launched ‘Budget Patra’ campaign, Kejriwal asserted that AAP’s governance provides an estimated ₹25,000 monthly benefit to each family, with additional initiatives further increasing household savings.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal also addressed concerns regarding water contamination in Delhi, stating that ammonia levels in the Yamuna had significantly dropped, averting a potential water crisis.
With just days left before polling, the AAP leadership faces the dual challenge of managing internal dissent while countering opposition strategies. The upcoming elections will be crucial in determining whether AAP can sustain its political stronghold in Delhi amid growing dissatisfaction within its ranks.
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