The AAP accused the BJP on Saturday of fielding candidates without considering their eligibility or commitment to work for the people, pointing to East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir’s request to be relieved of political duties.
Gambhir, the BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from East Delhi, asked party chief J.P. Nadda to free him from political responsibilities so he can focus on upcoming cricket commitments.
At a press conference with Kuldeep Kumar — the AAP’s candidate from East Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls — senior party leader Atishi claimed that Gambhir’s request “revealed” that the BJP was not nominating him in this year’s elections.
Atishi, a Delhi minister, alleged that Gambhir did nothing in his East Delhi constituency during his five-year term. She charged that other BJP MPs also remained unavailable in their constituencies.
“It has become a trend, and the BJP makes anyone its candidate, without considering their eligibility or commitment to work for the people. No elected representative of the BJP — MP, MLA, or councillor — is visible in their constituency,” she alleged.
Atishi claimed that AAP MLAs and councillors are not only present in their constituencies and wards but also work for the people.
She questioned the BJP MPs on what they did during these five years to improve policing, women’s safety, and the implementation of central government schemes in the city.
Kumar alleged that Gambhir was evading his duties after deceiving the people of East Delhi who elected him as MP.
In a post on X earlier on Saturday, Gambhir said, “I have requested Hon’ble party president JP Nadda ji to relieve me of my political duties so that I can focus on my upcoming cricket commitments. I sincerely thank Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji and Home Minister Amit Shah ji for giving me the opportunity to serve the people. Jai Hind!”
Gambhir’s move, a former India cricketer, comes amid speculation in BJP circles about his potential replacement from the constituency.
The BJP has yet to announce its candidates for the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi.
The names of several potential candidates, including the BJP’s Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, general secretary Harsh Malhotra, and treasurer Vishnu Mittal, are being discussed as contenders from the East Delhi seat.