Former Congress MLA Veer Singh Dhingan joins AAP, criticises top leadership
Veer Singh Dhingan, a former three-time Congress MLA from Seemapuri, officially joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday in the presence of party chief Arvind Kejriwal at the AAP headquarters. The 71-year-old Dhingan, during a press conference alongside Kejriwal and AAP leader Durgesh Pathak, took aim at the Congress, accusing the party of being "double-faced."
सीमापुरी विधानसभा से तीन बार के विधायक और दलित समाज के लिए वर्षों से काम करने वाले वीर सिंह धींगान जी आज आम आदमी पार्टी में शामिल हो रहे हैं। यह AAP के लिए बेहद ही ख़ुशी का दिन है। @ipathak25 pic.twitter.com/adl3wyuwXz
— Vikas Goel (@VikasGoelAAP) November 15, 2024
"The Congress says one thing publicly but does another behind the scenes," Dhingan remarked. He specifically criticized Congress's actions during the MCD Mayor elections, which took place on Thursday. "The party supported the BJP… I was deeply upset by how we allowed the BJP to win the elections," he added.
During the mayoral election, Congress councillors staged a walkout, leaving AAP's mayoral candidate Mahesh Khichi to secure 133 votes, narrowly defeating BJP’s Kishan Pal by just three votes. Meanwhile, AAP's Ravindra Bhardwaj was elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor.
In an unusual move, Congress's Mohammad Khushnood and his wife, Sabila Begum, resigned from the party during the elections but stayed behind to vote. Seven other Congress councillors walked out in protest.
Dhingan, reflecting on his decision to leave Congress, questioned whether there was a "connection" between Delhi Congress and the BJP. He said, "I don't know if the Delhi Congress has some kind of ‘setting’ with the BJP, but I can’t continue like this. That’s why I’ve decided to join the AAP and work under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. I’ve seen his work firsthand, especially in my constituency, and I’m impressed by how the AAP has served Dalits. Under his leadership, I will continue to work for the people."
Arvind Kejriwal welcomed Dhingan's decision to join AAP, praising his political and social work experience. "He is a prominent figure in Delhi politics and has made significant contributions to social service. His joining will strengthen the AAP, particularly in our work for the Dalit community. He has the potential to become the future MLA of Seemapuri," Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal also noted that good people from other parties were joining AAP due to its work and ideals. "Leaders from both BJP and Congress are now joining AAP, which shows that in the upcoming elections, AAP is set to form the government with a strong majority," Kejriwal added.
Dhingan, who has served as the Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Board and the SC-ST Board under the Delhi government, was the Congress candidate for the Seemapuri seat in the 2020 Assembly elections. However, AAP's Rajendra Pal Gautam won the seat, though Gautam later switched to the BJP in September 2023.
