AAP Leaders Join BJP in Chhattisgarh Ahead of Lok Sabha Polls

A large number of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh, just before the Lok Sabha elections. This move is seen as a major setback for the AAP.

In a significant development ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, a large number of leaders and workers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. This move comes as a major setback for the AAP, which failed to win a single seat in the Chhattisgarh assembly elections last year.

Leaders from Various Parties Join BJP

Besides the AAP, leaders from some smaller outfits also merged their organizations with the BJP or joined it with their supporters. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed the new members and expressed confidence that their entry will strengthen the ruling party. The BJP's membership drive also saw the induction of several political leaders and ex-servicemen.

Key AAP Leaders Switch to BJP

Among the prominent AAP leaders who joined the BJP were Anand Prakash Miri (senior state vice-president), Vishal Kelkar (state secretary), Ravindra Singh Thakur (state president of Youth Wing), Dharam Bhargav (state president of SC wing), and Kamal Kant Sahu (state president of OBC wing). Several AAP leaders who had contested last year's assembly polls also joined the BJP.

BJP's Growing Strength

Chief Minister Sai termed the day as historic and said that thousands of people from different parties and ex-servicemen have joined the BJP, impressed by its ideology. He expressed confidence that the BJP will become stronger with the induction of these new members and will contribute to the victory of the Narendra Modi government in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

BJP's Commitment to Development

Sai highlighted the BJP's commitment to the upliftment of the last person in the line and the development of all sections of society. He mentioned various initiatives undertaken by the state government, such as the construction of houses under the PM Awas Yojana, the provision of outstanding paddy bonus to farmers, and the recommendation for a CBI investigation into the state public service commission scam. He assured that all schemes promised by the BJP ahead of the 2023 polls will be implemented as soon as possible.

AAP's Massive Defeat in Chhattisgarh

The AAP suffered a massive defeat in the 2018 Chhattisgarh assembly polls, with all 53 of its candidates losing by huge margins. In 2018, the party had fielded candidates in 85 out of 90 seats in the state, and all of them had lost their deposits. This latest development further weakens the AAP's presence in Chhattisgarh and raises questions about its future prospects in the state.