Disillusioned with AAP, over 500 leaders and workers join Congress in Gujarat

In a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat, several of its leaders, including State Secretary Suryasinh Dabhi and Ahmedabad City President Om Prakash Tiwari, along with more than 500 workers, joined the Congress on Sunday at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, the party’s state headquarters in Ahmedabad.

They were formally welcomed by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Gujarat in-charge Mukul Wasnik, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Chavda, and Legislative Party Leader Tushar Chaudhary.

Senior Congress leaders assured the new entrants that their “honour would be preserved.”

AAP Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi, however, dismissed the development as a sign of “insecurity” among a handful of members.

“During over 200 jansabha organised from August 1-6, over 5,000 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress workers have joined the AAP, while we have witnessed over 1 lakh people on the ground during these sabhas… Seeing so many Congress and BJP leaders join the AAP, there is a feeling of insecurity among a few. Soon, more will join the AAP,” Gadhvi told The Indian Express.

Other AAP leaders who crossed over to the Congress included Kantiji Thakor, AAP’s Kalol Assembly candidate; Rambhai Yadav, State Joint Secretary; Rajeshbhai Bhatt, District Secretary, Gandhinagar; Narendrasinh Dabhi, District Secretary; Natwarsinh Dabhi, Ward President; Pravinbhai Sasla, Ahmedabad City Secretary; and Ashokbhai Yadav, Ahmedabad City Legal Chairman.

The defectors accused AAP of working to split anti-BJP votes to the ruling party’s advantage.

In a statement, the GPCC said: “…AAP leaders coming from Delhi were only giving orders in support of the BJP. Finally, after knowing the truth, that the Congress is the only party that can take everyone along and is capable of challenging the dictatorial rule of the BJP… the former AAP leaders and workers joined the grand old party.”

Wasnik said the Congress’ ideology stands for inclusivity and justice, contrasting it with BJP’s “anti-people policies.” He added: “Economic inequality is increasing in the country. The poor are becoming extremely poor. The rich are becoming richer. The policy of the BJP government is harmful to the poor-common-middle class folks. Inflation and unemployment is continuously increasing.”

GPCC President Chavda echoed this, saying, “Many big leaders and activists, political and non-political leaders are continuously joining the Congress. We welcome all of you and assure you that your honour will be preserved. To save democracy and to protect the Constitution, we will all have to fight together against the divisive politics of the BJP.”

Chaudhary added that unlike the BJP, the Congress values internal democracy. “The Congress will become stronger with the arrival of leaders and activists of various parties in large numbers,” he said.

The defections come weeks after AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, during a visit to Gujarat in July, declared that his party had ended its ties with the Congress. He had also announced that while the INDIA bloc was formed for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, AAP would contest the 2027 Gujarat Assembly polls independently.