AAP steps up attack on BJP over delay in Chief Minister selection

AAP Leader Gopal Rai. File
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday (February 17, 2025) stepped up its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over not selecting a Chief Minister and claimed that Delhi could have three Chief Ministers in the next five years as the BJP is unable to find a Chief Minister even after 10 days of the election result. 

Hitting back, the BJP said that the AAP should focus on solving its own internal issues before attacking the BJP.

“This situation signals that the BJP, despite being handed power by the people of Delhi for the first time in this manner, is repeating the same pattern from their previous rule when they changed three Chief Ministers within five years,” AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai said at a press conference. 

He claimed that the kind of internal tussle, factionalism, and power struggle visible within the BJP clearly indicates that Delhi may once again witness a scenario where three Chief Ministers are changed within a five-year term.

 “Even if a name is finalized, the ongoing internal conflict within the BJP suggests that Delhi will face an unstable government where those not chosen for the post will constantly try to unseat the one who becomes Chief Minister. The signs are reminiscent of the experiences from BJP’s previous government in Delhi,” he said. 

Outgoing Chief Minister Atishi also attacked the BJP over not declaring the Chief Minister. 

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva alleged that even while holding the position of Acting Chief Minister, Atishi Marlena continues to disregard the dignity of her office by making reckless statements.

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“Atishi Marlena must clarify whether it is true that senior and multiple-term MLAs like Mateen Ahmed, Gopal Rai, Sanjeev Jha, Kuldeep Kumar, and Jarnail Singh, along with politically connected MLAs like Ale Mohammad and Punardeep Singh Sahni, are unwilling to accept her as the Leader of the Opposition,” he said. 

Mr. Sachdeva alleged that while Ms. Atishi has won her MLA seat again, she lacks the political foundation and the fighting spirit necessary for a Leader of the Opposition.

Responding to a query on who will be the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Rai also said that the decision would be taken by the party before the Assembly session. 

Restructuring of AAP 

Mr. Rai also announced that the AAP has initiated steps for restructuring of the party’s Delhi unit. 

“First, we will initiate the process of restructuring our organization to address and correct any weaknesses and strengthen our party further. For this purpose, on the 19th, we are convening a meeting with all 70 district secretaries who were in charge of the Assembly constituencies, all 70 Assembly presidents, and all 70 Assembly organization ministers,” he said. 

He said that through this meeting, the party will gather feedback from every Assembly on February 22, the party will hold a meeting with all provincial office-bearers of our organization to review and further strengthen the organizational framework.

Mr. Rai said that the party will also hold a meeting with all state office-bearers, including the state president, organization secretaries, vice presidents, and secretaries. “In this meeting, we will review the role of each member during the election campaign. Following this, we will gradually proceed with the reorganization of our party structure from the Assembly level to the Mandal level,” he said.  

“Our legislative party will strongly play its role in the Assembly as a responsible opposition to safeguard the interests of the people, while our organizational network will march forward on the streets with equal determination,” he added.