AAP MLA Rajendra Pal Gautam resigns, joins Congress: ‘Will intensify struggle for social justice of Bahujan Samaj’

In 2022, Gautam resigned from his ministerial post after a video showing him attending a religious conversion event surfaced on social media. The BJP had accused him of insulting Hindu gods and goddesses, after which Gautam posted his resignation letter on X. Prior to this, he was heading the Delhi government’s departments of Social Welfare, SC/ST Welfare, Registrar of Cooperatives and Gurdwara Elections.

Reacting to the move, the AAP said that it is just another “chapter in the shifting tides of politics”. The Delhi BJP, on its part, said that by including Gautam in the party, the Congress had confirmed that it is “a sanctuary for opponents of Sanatan Dharma”.

Expressing his gratitude to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the opportunity to serve as an MLA twice, Gautam also accused the AAP government of turning a blind eye towards the issues faced by the marginalised sections, particularly SC, ST, OBC, and minorities. “I won both elections with huge majorities, for which I thank him. But my fight lies elsewhere. When it comes to social justice, AAP often stays silent, especially on issues related to caste, class, and minorities. This has deeply hurt me.”

“Had Arvind Kejriwal been serious, he would have ensured reservations in the CM Fellows Programme. Today, most programmes for SCs, STs, and OBCs are non-functional. How does this not pain them? In Delhi, our engineering colleges charge fees exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh per year, which amounts to Rs 10 lakh for a four-year course and this does not include hostel expenses. How will students from marginalised backgrounds afford education? I had asked for Rs 200 crore in the budget for students who cannot afford education, but no serious effort was made.”

Reflecting on his work as a minister, Gautam said, “As a minister in the Delhi government, I launched schemes like the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, and we ensured that sewer deaths no longer occurred in Delhi by banning manual scavenging. Yet, despite this, Dalits are still being treated unfairly throughout the country. In such a scenario, the slogan given by Rahul Gandhi, ‘Main nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan kholne aaya hoon,’ has really touched my heart. He is fighting for social justice.”

K C Venugopal, Congress general secretary, welcomed Gautam and felicitated him with the party’s scarf. “This is a proud moment for us. Rajendra Pal Gautam, a prominent figure in the country’s political spectrum and a true Ambedkarite, has joined the Indian National Congress. His decision to join Congress gives us even more happiness because it shows that the ideology he has followed all his life is being upheld by our party,” said Venugopal.
When asked about the potential impact of his move on the Congress-AAP alliance talks for Haryana, the leaders declined to comment.

AAP state vice-president Kuldeep Kumar said, “When tickets are in doubt, some jump ship… People change sides, come and go. The AAP gave all due respect to Rajendra Pal Gautam. The party entrusted him with significant responsibilities by appointing him as a minister and overseeing multiple departments.”

“Often when candidates sense that the ground realities are not in their favor, and their chances of securing a ticket are uncertain, then they change sides… I wish him all the best in his future political endeavors, and may he enjoy good health and happiness,” he added.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused the Delhi CM of allegedly “asking his friends in the Congress” to induct Gautam to “safeguard his political future”.

“Rajendra Pal Gautam has been a very ordinary-level MLA in Delhi, and in the 2020 elections, he was able to retain his seat only due to the Kejriwal government’s free electricity and water schemes. Over time, due to his outspoken opposition to Sanatan Dharma, he became a political liability for the Aam Aadmi Party, leaving Congress as his only political option,” Sachdeva alleged.

Apart from Gautam, 72 AAP and BJP lawyers also joined the Congress later in the day, the Delhi Congress said in a statement.