Months after Delhi assembly polls loss, AAP suffers another setback

After a humiliating defeat of the AAP in the Delhi assembly elections, the party faces another major setback as 13 of its councillors resigned, and announced the formation of a new political outfit.

The chief rebel, who led the defections is believed to be Mukesh Goel, who was the leader of the house for AAP in the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi).

On Saturday the councillors under his leadership announced a new party, naming it Indraprastha Vikas Party. Goel had contested Delhi assembly elections in February this year on an AAP ticket from Adarsh Nagar but lost.

Goel, who has been a longtime municipal councillor, for around 25 years, had switched to the AAP from Congress in 2021.

The development comes days after the BJP reclaimed control of the MCD following its win in the civic polls election which the AAP had boycotted.

While responding to the resignation of the councillors, AAP responded by pointing towards the BJP's unholy pursuit of poaching its mayors since the time of mayoral elections. AAP mentioned that each councillor was offered Rs 5 crore. "The BJP does not have a majority to form the standing committee or ward committees—so it is resorting to buying people," the party said.

"Because we exposed BJP’s horse-trading attempts during the mayoral election itself, they are now staging a drama by pretending these defections are from another party. But make no mistake—this is BJP’s operation from start to finish. In the coming days, the truth will be undeniable," the Delhi-based party added.

India