New Delhi: In a major blow to the Congress party ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi, former Congress leader Sumesh Shokeen officially joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday.
Shokeen joined the party in a ceremony attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at party headquarters in the national capital. Shokeen a former MLA from Matiala, is likely to contest the assembly election from the same segment as an AAP candidate.
His departure follows a recent defection from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as Anil Jha also aligned himself with AAP just a day prior. The political landscape is further complicated by Kailash Gehlot’s resignation from AAP, with speculations swirling about his potential shift to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
During his induction into AAP, Shokeen expressed admiration for the party’s initiatives aimed at improving rural areas and integrating them into the broader socio-economic framework. He remarked on the achievements of Kejriwal’s government, stating, “The Aam Aadmi Party has done a lot of work for rural areas, connecting the countryside with the mainstream.”
Shokeen also criticised the previous Congress governments under Sheila Dikshit, claiming that she was unaware of agricultural practices in Delhi during her 15-year tenure.
Arvind Kejriwal welcomed Shokeen into the party fold, highlighting his status as a prominent leader within Delhi’s political sphere. “Former Congress MLA from Delhi Rural, Sumesh Shokeen has joined AAP. He is a very big leader in Delhi and is joining our party today. I welcome him very much,” Kejriwal stated, highlighting the importance of his joining to AAP.
As the assembly elections loom closer, the dynamics within Delhi’s political arena continue to shift as politicians have started changing their goalposts. Kailash Gehlot’s resignation from AAP has raised eyebrows, with many speculating that he may be preparing to join the BJP. When questioned about Gehlot’s departure, Kejriwal responded nonchalantly, stating, “He is free and can go anywhere”.
