New Delhi: In a significant political upheaval, 15 councillors from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have officially resigned and announced the formation of a new political entity, the Indraprastha Vikas Party, with Mukesh Goyal as its president.
The councillors, who gathered at the Constitution Club in Delhi, revealed their decision to break away from AAP, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s internal dynamics. Mukesh Goyal, a former Congress leader who transitioned to AAP, expressed concerns about the party’s leadership and decision-making processes. He stated, “Despite winning the 2022 elections on AAP’s ticket, we felt increasingly sidelined. Over the past two and a half years, directives consistently came from the top, leaving little room for input from those of us on the ground.”
Goyal, who previously served as the leader of the house, emphasized that the party had once enjoyed an absolute majority with 135 members. However, he lamented that the AAP’s decline in the Municipal Corporation was exacerbated by a lack of communication and collaboration with experienced councillors. “We were often given orders without any context or discussion. The party’s failure to engage with its seasoned members ultimately led to our relegation to the opposition,” he added.
Among the new party’s leadership are Hemchand Goyal, a three-time councillor, and Jasvir and Usha Sharma, both of whom have served two terms. Goyal criticized the AAP’s approach, stating, “The Municipal Corporation could have been effectively managed if the party had consulted its experienced members instead of fostering an environment of conflict and blame.”
Mukesh Goyal articulated the reasons behind his resignation, highlighting a stark contrast between the political environment of the past 28 years and the last two and a half years. He expressed frustration over the lack of control over municipal officers, who have consistently disregarded the council’s directives. “No meaningful work has been accomplished,” he lamented, “and our councillors were misled with promises of a monthly salary of Rs 1 lakh.”
Goyal pointed out that since 1997, the meeting allowance for councillors has remained stagnant at Rs 300, despite an initial increase from Rs 150 to Rs 300 in the year 2000. “Our corporation councillors have been deceived into believing they would receive substantial compensation, yet they lack even a basic budget to facilitate development projects in their constituencies,” he stated. The situation has deteriorated to the point where municipal officers have ceased to cooperate with the ruling party, leading to a pervasive sense of disillusionment.
“We have been in this predicament for two and a half years, and it appears that this trend will persist,” Goyal remarked. “Consequently, we have collectively decided to resign from the Aam Aadmi Party.” He emphasized the need for accountability to the constituents, stating, “We must demonstrate our effectiveness; otherwise, how can we expect to earn the public’s trust and votes in the upcoming elections?”
Echoing Goyal’s sentiments, Hemchand Goyal noted that the essence of a corporation lies in the decentralization of power. However, he criticized the Aam Aadmi Party for consolidating authority in the hands of a single individual at the central level.
Councillors Who Resigned: – Hemchand Goyal- Himani Jain- Runakshi Sharma- Usha Sharma- Ashok Pandey- Rakhi Yadav- Sahib Kumar- Rajesh Kumar- Manisha Kirana- Suman Anil Rana- Dinesh Bhardwaj- Mukesh Kumar Goyal- Devendra Kumar.
In the wake of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) recent electoral setbacks in Delhi, a notable rift has emerged within the party. The Delhi Assembly elections resulted in significant losses for prominent AAP leaders, including party chief Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. This defeat has fostered a sense of disillusionment among party members, leading to an ongoing fragmentation within the organization.
AAP’s Response to the Councilors’ Resignations
Since the mayoral elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has actively sought to entice our councilors to switch allegiances, reportedly offering each councilor a sum of ₹5 crore. Lacking a majority to establish a standing committee or ward committee, the BJP appears to be resorting to unethical tactics to secure support.
Also Read: Delhi BJP Denies Involvement in AAP Councillors’ Defection, Accuses Party of Inaction
With the resignation of 13 councillors, AAP’s strength in the 250-member House has come down from 113 to 100. The BJP currently holds the largest number of seats with 117 councillors, while the Congress has 8.
Notably, the anti-defection law does not apply to municipal bodies like the MCD.
