AAP Reshuffles Leadership, Faces Backlash from BJP and Congress

In a major organizational reshuffle, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) assigned new responsibilities to key leaders on Friday, more than a month after losing power in Delhi. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has been appointed as AAP’s Punjab in-charge, while Saurabh Bharadwaj has replaced Gopal Rai as the Delhi unit president. Meanwhile, Satyendar Jain has been named Punjab’s co-in-charge. The changes were decided during a meeting of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.

Key Leadership Changes

• Gopal Rai will now oversee AAP’s Gujarat unit, where the party secured a 13% vote share in the 2022 Assembly elections.
• Sandeep Pathak, AAP’s national general secretary, and Rajya Sabha MP, has been given additional responsibility as special in-charge of Chhattisgarh, where AAP recently won a municipal election seat.
• Pankaj Gupta, AAP’s national secretary, has been assigned to Goa, where AAP secured two Assembly seats in 2022. Threeco-charges have also been appointed: Ankush Narang, Abhash Malik, and Deepak Singh.
• Durgesh Pathak, who led AAP’s Goa campaign in 2022, has been named co-in-charge of Gujarat.
• Mehraj Malik, AAP’s only Jammu & Kashmir MLA, has been appointed as the state unit chief.

Punjab Strategy and Political Implications

AAP’s Punjab appointments are being seen as a strategic move to retain power in the state ahead of the 2027 elections. However, former Punjab in-charge Jarnail Singh, who played a crucial role in AAP’s 2022 Assembly victory, has not been given a major role in the new structure.

At a press conference, Saurabh Bharadwaj defended the party’s position, stating that AAP’s vote share in Delhi was only 2% behind the BJP’s, showing continued public support for Arvind Kejriwal despite the electoral loss.

BJP, Congress Lash Out at AAP

The reshuffle sparked criticism from BJP and Congress, with both parties accusing AAP of shielding Sisodia and Jain, who are facing corruption charges.

BJP’s Response

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa took to X (formerly Twitter) to attack AAP, alleging that Punjab was being used as a “rehabilitation center for corrupt politicians.”

“Rejected in Delhi, now imposed on Punjab! AAP appoints Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain—leaders who lost public trust—as Punjab’s in-charge and co-incharge. Is Punjab just a rehabilitation center for AAP’s tainted and failed politicians? Kejriwal’s silent ambition of becoming Punjab’s CM through backdoor politics is no secret,” Sirsa posted.

Congress’ Response

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav accused AAP of planning to “loot Punjab” before being ousted from power.

“Kejriwal is keeping a safe distance while pushing his partners in corruption to trouble Punjab further. AAP’s real corrupt face has come to the fore,” Yadav stated.

What’s Next for AAP?

With Punjab and Gujarat emerging as key battlegrounds, AAP is focusing on expanding its influence beyond Delhi. However, the backlash over the appointments could fuel further political battles in the run-up to upcoming elections.

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