New Delhi, November 29, 2025: A day ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) bypolls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a significant setback as senior leader and former two-time MLA Rajesh Gupta quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday. Gupta, who had previously served as a national spokesperson and Karnataka in-charge for AAP, cited dissatisfaction with the party’s treatment of its long-serving members as the key reason behind his departure.

Gupta was formally inducted into the BJP in the presence of Delhi BJP unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, who welcomed him with the traditional party stole, according to an official statement from the Delhi BJP. During his induction, Gupta did not hold back in expressing his grievances against his former party, highlighting what he described as AAP’s “use-and-throw” policy toward its workers.

“They (AAP) don’t care about the people who left their jobs during the Anna Andolan,” Gupta said. “Many people want to leave the party, and I think they should. It’s not easy. They should go somewhere where they get respect—a party which doesn’t use and discard its workers.”

Recalling his own experiences within AAP, Gupta claimed that the party’s top leadership, including AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, neither engaged with him nor acknowledged his contributions. “I was in the party, but their convenor neither spoke to me nor visited me. Arvind ji, you will have to think about why people are leaving you. I always fought for you, even on television,” Gupta said, speaking through visible emotion.

He accused the party of betraying long-time supporters and recalled the early days of AAP when numerous prominent individuals had joined hands with Kejriwal. “When AAP was formed, many well-known individuals joined hands with Kejriwal, but he had betrayed everyone, prompting them to leave one after another. Today, unfortunately, I have also joined that list,” Gupta said, his voice breaking during the address.

Gupta also raised concerns about AAP’s candidate selection in the Ashok Vihar bypoll, alleging that the party had fielded a candidate who had previously received a notice from AAP itself. “My own concerns were dismissed,” he said, emphasising that despite years of loyalty, honesty, and dedication, the party leadership did not engage with him meaningfully.

Speaking at the induction, BJP’s Virendra Sachdeva highlighted AAP’s own shortcomings, noting that leaders of the party were now highlighting issues created during their own twelve-year tenure while criticizing the BJP government, which has been in power in Delhi for just eight months. He also pointed to the limited participation of senior AAP leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, observing that others such as Atishi and Gopal Rai have only been making sporadic appearances during the bypoll campaign.

In response to Gupta’s exit, Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj attributed the departure to internal differences over ticket allocation. Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said Gupta had been asking for a councillor ticket for his wife in the Ashok Vihar by-election, which the party was unable to accommodate.

“Rajesh Gupta ji is our brother. The party made him contest the MLA election four times, but he could not win. He was demanding a councillor ticket for his wife in the Ashok Vihar by-election,” Bharadwaj said. “The party, with a heavy heart, decided not to go ahead with it. He discussed internal party matters with another party, and when that did not work, he finally joined the BJP. In anger, he left the party. Our best wishes to him,” he added.

Gupta’s exit underscores the growing internal challenges faced by AAP as it prepares for the MCD bypolls. The timing of the departure, just a day before voting, raises questions about the party’s internal cohesion and its ability to retain long-serving leaders. Observers note that Gupta’s public criticism of Kejriwal and the party’s leadership could influence voter perception, particularly among those who supported the party during its formative years.

For the BJP, Gupta’s induction is a symbolic victory, highlighting the party’s efforts to attract experienced leaders from rival parties ahead of local elections. Gupta’s criticism of AAP’s leadership style and candidate selection may also serve as a narrative point for the BJP in framing the MCD contest as an election where experienced and respected leaders are being sidelined by the incumbent party.

Overall, Rajesh Gupta’s emotional departure and subsequent joining of the BJP reflect a broader dynamic in Delhi politics, where internal dissatisfaction, leadership grievances, and issues of recognition and respect play a significant role in shaping party allegiances and electoral outcomes. As the MCD bypolls approach, both AAP and BJP will likely be closely watching the impact of this high-profile defection on voter sentiment and the broader political landscape in the capital.

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