Delhi AAP MLA resigns, joins BJP

Ved Prakash, lawmaker from Bawana, claims there is no democracy in the ruling party

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Ved Prakash resigned from the party as well as assembly membership and joined the BJP yesterday, ahead of the April 23 elections to the three municipal corporations here.

Ved Prakash, the MLA from Bawana, claimed there was no democracy in the ruling AAP and accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of not fulfilling the promises he made before the 2015 assembly elections.

“I am resigning from the AAP as it has failed to deliver on its promises made during the 2015 assembly elections. People are feeling cheated,” Prakash said.

Prakash announced his decision to join the opposition BJP at a press conference here, also attended by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari. Later in the day, Prakash resigned from the assembly membership.

The AAP said the BJP was conspiring to break the ruling party by “purchasing” AAP MLAs.

Voting for the 272 wards of north, east and south Delhi municipal corporations will be held on April 23 and the results declared on April 26.

Prakash said he was feeling “suffocated” in the AAP.

Prakash claimed that 30-35 MLAs in the AAP were not happy with the party leadership.

“This party has no connect with the people. They do not know what is happening at the ground level,” he claimed.

Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the BJP was rattled by Kejriwal’s decision to abolish house tax in Delhi if voted to power in the three municipal corporations.

“Positive reactions after this announcement has rattled the BJP and it has resorted to political machinations that are not going to work,” Sanjay Singh said. “The BJP is conspiring to break up AAP by purchasing MLAs.” - IANS