Major Blow to AAP’s Himachal dreams as party state chief joins BJP

AAP's Mission Himachal hopes took a severe hit as Anup Kesari, Aam Aadmi Party chief of Himachal Pradesh, joined the BJP along with two other party workers ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections. The defectors while expressing their disappointment with AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the of "being ignorant" during a roadshow in the Mandi constituency a few days ago.

AAP's state unit AAP president Anup Kesari, Una district chief Iqbal Singh, and General secretary organisation Satish Thakur joined BJP at the residence of JP Nadda in Delhi.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Anup Kesari said, "We have been working round the clock with utmost honesty and dedication for the party for the past 8 years in Himachal Pradesh. However, Kejriwal overlooked the state party workers when he came for a rally and roadshow in Mandi. In the hill state, Aam Aadmi Party workers considered this ignorance as an insult and quit the party for self-respect."

He added, "We are very much disappointed with Kejriwal. He could not even turn his eyes towards us, who worked day and night for the party. Only Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann were the key highlights of the roadshow in Mandi,".

Mr Kesari, after joining BJP, assured Union Minister Anurag Thakur and party national chief JP Nadda of working harder for the party to bring it back to power in the upcoming assembly elections.

Satish Thakur and Iqbal Singh justified their defection by stating that the workers who had committed themselves to the party felt insulted by the Punjab and Delhi Chief Ministers during the roadshow in Himachal Pradesh' Mandi.

"We felt insulted and ignored during the roadshow on April 6. So, we decided to join BJP to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and serve the people of Himachal Pradesh," Mr Thakur said.

Mr. Singh stated, "Only Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann participated in the roadshow. They did not bother about interacting with the party workers of Himachal Pradesh. They ignored and insulted us. Hence, we joined BJP."

Anurag Thakur, while welcoming the top three leaders of AAP to BJP noted that their presence and support and presence will strengthen the party to retain its power in the state.Thakur didn't miss a chance to also slam the Delhi CM for insulting his own party workers during the roadshow.

"On one side, Arvind Kejriwal talks about his party all the time, and on the other side, he overlooks and insults his own dedicated workers. During the roadshow in Mandi, except the Chief Minister Kejriwal and Chief Minister Mann, no one was allowed on the vehicle. No leader was given a place on the rath. Their entry will help strengthen our party," the minister said.

The AAP is all set to put out a spirited campaign eyeing Himachal Pradesh against the backdrop of a sweeping victory in Punjab. The Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh are slated to occur in December this year. AAP will be contesting in all 68 seats in the Assembly elections in the Himalayan state.