AAP legislator Bajpai crosses floor to join BJP

Alleging poor treatment from the party leadership Anil Bajpai, Aam Aadmi Party Member of Legislative Assembly from Gandhinagar, joined the BJP here yesterday. Bajpai officially joined the BJP in the presence of party national vice-president Shyam Jaju and Union Minister Vijay Goel. After joining the party, Bajpai accused the AAP of treating its legislators poorly.

His joining comes a day after Goel on Thursday claimed that 14 AAP legislators are in touch with the BJP.

“I worked with the AAP for many years. I was hurt by the lack of respect and the peculiar functioning of the party. It has detracted from its original path,” he said.

Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader Gopal Rai the BJP had for some time been trying to “buy” its MLAs.

“As far as Bajpai is concerned, no person would say that they have taken money and going to another party, they would be finding faults within the party. Bajpai had himself come from the Congress, so what issue did he have from the alliance talks that were going on?” he said. Rai added that the BJP did not trust its own MPs and hence, was indulging in horse-trading. Three municipal councilors of AAP have also joined the BJP. Sitting AAP MP from Punjab Harinder Singh Khalsa, who was suspended from the party, joined the BJP in March.