Kailash Gahlot interview: ‘Arvind Kejriwal is not an Aam Aadmi anymore’

As I mentioned in my resignation letter, I left AAP were due to my disillusionment with the party’s core values, its failure to fulfill the promises it made to the people, and lack of action taken to address those promises. As I have been saying, the principles and values for which we joined the party have begun to get eroded. These issues gradually built up over time, and eventually, the moment came to say goodbye.

Do other AAP leaders and workers also feel the same?

There are several workers and leaders in the party who feel th same, whether they are small party workers, hold a position in the party, an MLA, or a minister. I meant every word of the statement I made at the BJP headquarters. The words may be mine, but behind them are the voices of many people. People come together for a common objective, and when you start seeing everything unfold, it builds up over time.

Why BJP?

There is nothing to say… My public life is like an open book… there is nothing to hide… One can ask, ‘why did you join AAP first then’… So, you get inspired by few things like what is happening in the country, which party is working in the right direction… You start feeling it and then you take a call…

When did you last meet Kejriwal? Did you tell him about your decision before you quit?

He is a very intelligent man, he knows everything. It’s not important to meet, you just have to talk and discuss… I have conveyed everything through my letter… Even if I had had a verbal conversation with him, the reasons (for quitting) would have been same.

You called yourself Lord Hanuman, likening Kejriwal to Lord Ram.

Wherever I am, I will be that person’s and the party’s Hanuman and work… So, the meaning of Hanuman is a person who works silently.

You highlighted three things – Sheesh Mahal, Yamuna cleaning and AAP moving away from its core value. These things are not new. People have resigned earlier citing similar reasons. Why now?

Such a big decision is not taken overnight. It takes time and a lot of courage… You joined the party since the Anna Andolan days… So, it is not like you just woke up one day and decided.

Sheesh Mahal are words often used by BJP to describe the CM’s official residence. What wrongs have been done in the renovation and construction of the house?

‘Sheesh Mahal’ is used by everyone now… Nobody calls it the former CM’s residence or 6, Flag Staff Road bungalow… Arvind Kejriwal has a different personality I think… He is not like any other CM and AAP was not formed like any other party… These are the core values I am talking about… Jo taakat unki WagonR ke chalne mai thi aur jo unki taakat unki simplicity thi, wahin toh laakhon crore logon ko keech kar laayi saath mai (The force that his driving a WagonR and that of his simplicity had was what had brought lakhs and crores of people together with him). But what we are seeing today in the newspapers, is it matching with that… So, Kejriwal is not an aam aadmi anymore.

“Such a big decision is not taken overnight. It takes time and a lot of courage… You joined the party since the Anna Andolan days… So, it is not like you just woke up one day and decided,” says Kailash Gahlot. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

A large number of portfolios was taken away from you, after former deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested, and given to Atishi. Were you upset?

See, portfolios keeps changing… it is your boss’s decision… You have come to politics to work for the people and develop Delhi, not for any portfolio… More important is how you are performing in the departments you have been given.

Which minister with 20 portfolios has performed well? Do you think a minister can perform well with so many portfolios… These things are not for me to decide…The CM and the senior leadership decides…

How was your equation with CM Atishi? Were you also considered for the CM post?

Bahut badhiya hai… I have no idea (if I was considered).

While your colleagues like Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj were holding press conferences against L-G, you never said anything openly against Raj Niwas. Why?

Because I don’t believe in that kind of politics. I believe in constructive politics. We are here to work for the people or hold press conferences day and night… A minister or CM is holding three press conferences a day. Where is the time for governance?

You and L-G were seen together at events… It has been said in AAP that you had a deal and he was your point person?

What kind of a deal… The speech I gave at Independence Day, whom did I praise, whom did I say is a modern freedom fighter? L-G or Arvind Kejriwal? Whom did I call the father of modern education? L-G? No, but Manish Sisodia. My entire speech was dedicated to Arvind Kejriwal…

Even if I had a deal with the L-G, whose work I was doing? Whose policies and visions was I taking forward? L-G or Arvind Kejriwal?…

Premium bus policy was very close to Arvind Kejriwal’s heart since 2015. The first notification was quashed on the order of then L-G. Then there was tussle with the bureaucrats to take it forward… But I took the policy forward… It was not the vision of Kailash Gahlot or L-G Sahab… It was Kejriwal’s vision. Deal would have been struck if I pushed BJP’s agenda as a minister of AAP.

Things also seemed to change between you and AAP when the L-G chose you to hoist the National Flag on August 15.

No, the CM (Kejriwal, who was then in jail) gave his consent… I had already said ‘no’ to hoisting the flag… I accepted only when Madam (Sunita) Kejriwal approved… I told her, ‘you talk to sir about this’… She said, ‘there is no problem, if he (L-G) has picked you, then you should do it’… She said there is no difference between me and her (Atishi, who was chosen by Kejriwal to hoist the flag)…

AAP said you resigned as you were under pressure from CBI and ED? What cases are you were facing?

I don’t know what cases are pending against me… you should ask them.

Does BJP put pressure on politicians using ED and CBI?

I think these are very subjective things… May be you can tolerate this much pressure. But if you ask a weak person to lift a 100-kg weight and run, he might collapse… But a strong wrestler might run… So, why politics alone… pressure is there everywhere… in all professions and businesses…

Are you saying BJP plays such kind of politics?

No. I am not saying they do it or not… I am just saying… in any profession, there are several types of pressures and challenges… It depends on you, how you take it.

“The upcoming polls are going to be good for BJP… Time will tell. People vote for the party they like, ” says Kailash Gahlot. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

You have criticised BJP earlier as an AAP leader. How are you going to face the people now?

I did not steal anything… So, we will face the people boldly… Now, I am in BJP, I will work hard to make the party strong and form BJP government in Delhi… that is the goal now. Whichever party you are in, you work with full honesty and loyalty… This is what our dharma says.

Was AAP planning to cancel your ticket for upcoming Delhi polls due to anti-incumbency?

All these things keep happening… There were several whose margin was lower than me… It is very hypothetical… such a stage did not arrive and will ever come… It’s unpredictable and no one knows who will be given a ticket…

As a BJP leader, why has the party struggled in Delhi?

The upcoming polls are going to be good for BJP… Time will tell. People vote for the party they like…

Will you be BJP’s CM face or contest from Najafgarh?

It’s up to the party… Also, I don’t think BJP announces any CM face…

Who was your closest friend in the AAP?

Arvind Kejriwal, everyone knows, it’s not a secret. I have good regards for him even today… I don’t believe in that kind of politics where you say bad things about them because you left the party… I am not that kind of person… I never cursed anyone in the party in the last 10 years.

But there are rumours that he has been upset with you for a long time.

He never said… neither did I ask him… You don’t question your boss, you just follow his directions… I don’t have any ill will against anyone…In my 10-year political career, I did hold grudge against anyone… I am still in talking terms with AAP leaders, MLAs… Everything need not be politicised.

Former transport minister Kailash Gahlot speaks to Gayathri Mani about the challenges he faced in AAP. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Kejriwal claiming he will sit on the CM seat only if declared innocent. Do you think this will help the party in the polls?

The people will decide, if they think work has been done, they will vote… AAP asks for vote on the basis on work it has done… So, the public will answer. They will decide who has been a good CM and minister.

In the last five years, Delhi has not seen any major work or policy implementation? Why?

You should ask the person who presented the Budget.

Former social welfare minister Raj Kumar Anand called AAP ‘anti-dalit” while resigning? Do you agree?

If he is saying than it must be true, otherwise why would he say such things.

As transport minister, you took several measures to curb pollution. Were there any action you wanted to take but couldn’t due to pressure from the party?

No, it wasn’t like that. Pollution is an issue where everyone should come together to find a solution. It should not be politicised, and the blame game should stop.