Sense of mistrust: Rise of Atishi soured Kailash Gahlot’s ties with AAP

NEW DELHI: Back in August, as Delhi was preparing to celebrate the 78th Independence Day, a constitutional dilemma emerged regarding who would hoist the national flag as chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was incarcerated. While Kejriwal preferred minister Atishi for the flag-hoisting duty, lieutenant governor VK Saxena designated Kailash Gahlot for the task.

Although AAP formally acceded to the decision, party sources indicated that this incident had sparked a sense of mistrust. Furthermore, while other party officials engaged in daily verbal confrontations with Raj Niwas, Gahlot continued performing official duties alongside Saxena, such as laying foundation stones, inaugurating new buses and participating in DMRC events—activities that caused discomfort among senior AAP functionaries.

Also read: Kailash Gahlot resigns, Delhi CM Atishi to handle his departments
The Gahlot camp attributed his cordial relation with LG to his way of functioning, which involved getting things done in an amicable way rather than "wasting" time in political fights. Gahlot managed to get policies like cab aggregator and premium bus service passed, even as his cabinet colleagues complained of their projects being stalled.

This unease, however, became more apparent when Kejriwal, after being released from jail, stated that Tihar Jail authorities meted out humiliation to him by refusing to forward his letter to LG nominating Atishi as the minister to hoist the Tricolour. Gahlot was sitting right behind him on the stage.

According to sources, Gahlot's relationship with the party began to decline after Kejriwal's imprisonment. Following the February 2023 resignations of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain from their cabinet positions, he became second-in-command in Delhi cabinet, managing multiple portfolios and presenting Delhi budget as finance minister. However, during a subsequent reorganisation in June, Atishi received additional responsibility for revenue, planning and finance departments, which were previously under Gahlot's purview. The law portfolio was also removed from his charge. Sources indicated that Gahlot was displeased with these changes.

Two months ago, when Atishi assumed the role of CM and reshuffled the cabinet, Gahlot, who kept his ministerial position, declared himself as "Hanuman of Arvind Kejriwal". The release of Kejriwal from custody was thought to have resolved internal conflicts.

However, like his time in office, including his last day, Gahlot maintained his characteristically quiet disposition. Just a day before, he led the opening ceremony of a women-operated bus depot.

The party's official stance indicated that he departed due to pressure from ED-CBI investigations, allegedly at BJP's behest. Sources from both BJP and AAP suggested he might join BJP, citing his cordial relationship with Saxena. Gahlot's electoral victories in 2015 and 2020 were achieved with narrow margins of 1,555 and 6,231 votes, respectively.


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