New Delhi: Kailash Gahlot, a former minister and ex-AAP leader, has been appointed to the Delhi BJP’s Assembly Election Coordination Committee as part of the party’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the Jat-majority regions of the national capital. This announcement was made by Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva after receiving approval from the senior leadership.
The Jat community, which makes up about 4-5% of Delhi’s population, is primarily located in rural northern and western areas. Historically, Jat representation in the Delhi Assembly has been significant, with around 10% of the 70-member assembly comprised of Jat legislators since 2008. Key assembly segments with substantial Jat populations include Najafgarh, Nangloi Jat, Mehrauli, Mundka, Matiala, Rithala, Bijwasan, and Badarpur.
Gahlot’s induction into the BJP’s election panel is seen as an effort to attract rural voters and enhance the party’s electoral prospects, especially against the AAP and Congress. In the past, the Jat community has predominantly supported the Congress, but the rise of AAP shifted those dynamics.
Recently, Gahlot resigned from the AAP, citing corruption within the party as the catalyst for his decision. He refuted allegations from his former colleagues that his resignation was coerced following investigations by the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department linked to the BJP-led central government.
As a lawyer, Gahlot has held key positions in the Delhi government, including in Home, Transport, IT, and Women and Child Development. He previously expressed concerns over controversies surrounding AAP, particularly the costly renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence, which he felt undermined the party’s image of being the “Aam Aadmi” (common man).
BJP leader Sachdeva praised Gahlot’s resignation as evidence supporting the corruption claims the BJP has made against the AAP government, particularly regarding the renovation referred to as ‘Sheesh Mahal,’ which has also drawn CBI scrutiny.