Patel Nagar: A look at Raaj Kumar Anand’s home turf after his surprise exit from AAP

TWO DAYS since he announced his surprise resignation from the AAP, Raaj Kumar Anand's home turf — the Assembly constituency of central Delhi's Patel Nagar — is abuzz.

From protest slogans by AAP supporters ringing outside his home to mutterings regarding the businessman-turned-politician’s unanticipated decision to step down in the streets, some surmised the possible reasons that triggered it while others tried to predict the former AAP Minister’s future moves. Kishan, a delivery boy who resides in the area, labelled his resignation a “betrayal to his friends” at a difficult time.

“They (AAP) gave him a platform, a ministerial post, and he is leaving them just like this…ye admi apne dotson ko daldal se nik al ne me in madadk ar ne ki jag ah khud apna haath chura ke bhaag gay a( instead of helping his friends out of the swamp, this man freed his hand and ran away).”

The AAP Delhi government’s work in the field of education was reason enough for him to root for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. “AAP is going to win all the Delhi (Lok Sabha) seats in the upcoming polls,” he declared, terming the AAP convernor's arrest by the ED “illegal”. Unhappy with growing inflation, Kishan accused Prime Minister Narendra Mo di of“burdening the common people” with increased taxes while leading a lavish lifestyle out of citizens' hard-earned money. “People must be mad if they will elect Mo di back to power. he has made everything costlier,” he alleged, terming the Electoral Bonds “the biggest political scam of India.”

A few blocks from Anand's residence, Monu, a computer shop owner, didn’t shy away from speculating about the former AAP Social Welfare Minister's next move. “From what we have been seeing lately, it won’t be a surprise if he will join BJP...”

Sunil Kumar, a food stall owner who said he sees Anand as an “active and people-friendly leader”, was disheartened by his decision. “He shouldn’t have quit. We have been seeing a lot of defections these days… such moves will tarnish his image. standing by his party in such difficult times would have been ideal. Today he left his friends in need, tomorrow he might be left in similar circumstancesby someone else ,” he said.

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Raaj Kumar Anand