Former AAP councillor Bhardwaj defects to BJP
Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Ram Narayan Bhardwaj, along with his son Pradeep Bhardwaj and hundreds of supporters, formally joined the BJP at the party’s Delhi office on Monday. Bhardwaj was welcomed into the BJP fold by Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and North West Delhi MP Yogender Chandolia, who presented him with a ceremonial ‘patka’ and sweets.
Bhardwaj, who served as a councillor for AAP in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Bankner ward from 2017 to 2022, expressed disillusionment with the AAP’s leadership, accusing Arvind Kejriwal of running the party in a “dictatorial” manner. “For the past 10 years, I have felt stifled within the Aam Aadmi Party. They preach democracy publicly but have no regard for it within the party. Only Kejriwal’s whims prevail,” Bhardwaj said, adding that the AAP’s style of governance prevented him from effectively serving his constituents.
Sachdeva noted that Bhardwaj’s move comes amid a larger trend of former AAP members switching to the BJP. “People are joining the BJP, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dedication to the country’s development,” Sachdeva said. “With Bhardwaj’s inclusion, BJP’s support in outer Delhi has strengthened significantly, and we are ready to contest the upcoming Assembly elections with full vigour,” he added.
Bhardwaj described the working atmosphere in AAP as “suffocating,” citing pressure from MLAs and party leadership that impeded his ability to act in the public’s interest. “Even when I held a chairman’s seat, I faced constant interference, making it nearly impossible to carry out my responsibilities effectively,” he explained.
Chandolia commented that Bhardwaj’s departure from AAP highlights internal discontent with Kejriwal’s style of governance. “Bhardwaj told me how he felt deceived by Kejriwal, who controls the AAP with an iron fist. In AAP, members are expected to listen and not speak,” Chandolia said, emphasising that Bhardwaj’s supporters in the Narela constituency are now firmly aligned with the BJP.
