AAP Hits Back at Ex-MLA Rajesh Gupta's Sudden Switch to BJP: 'Denied Councillor Ticket for Wife'

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Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj responded to Rajesh Gupta's surprise exit, citing the party's decision to deny a councillor ticket for his wife as the reason for his departure. Gupta, a former two-time MLA and national spokesperson for the AAP, joined the BJP on Saturday, ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) bypolls. Bharadwaj stated that Gupta was demanding the ticket for his wife in the Ashok Vihar by-election, but the party chose not to grant it. The AAP president expressed his best wishes to Gupta, stating that he had discussed internal party matters with another party, but ultimately joined the BJP in anger. Gupta, who was also the in-charge of the party's Karnataka unit, made a dramatic entrance into the BJP, accompanied by its Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva. The stage is set for the MCD bypolls on Sunday, which will be a crucial test for the voters' mood in the national capital. In a statement, Gupta alleged that the AAP's treatment of workers was a major factor in the party's downfall and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal's, unpopularity. Gupta claimed that he was betrayed by Kejriwal and that the party president refused to talk to him despite his years of loyalty and dedication. The AAP's decision to deny Gupta a councillor ticket has sparked controversy, with many questioning the party's motives. The MCD bypolls are expected to be a closely contested affair, with the BJP looking to capitalize on its recent assembly election success.