Kejriwal Challenges BJP Amidst Political Turmoil: AAP ‘s Confidence Motion and Congress Speculations Take Center Stage

The political landscape witnessed a flurry of activity on Sunday, as AAP ‘s Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took a swipe at the BJP-led central government amidst speculations of potential defections from the Congress party. Kejriwal’s remarks came during a lunch meeting hosted by senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Kejriwal himself.

During the gathering, Kejriwal criticized the BJP’s tactics, suggesting that the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids and the application of section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were driving leaders to join the saffron camp. He remarked that abolishing section 45 of the PMLA would dissuade many politicians from affiliating with the BJP, asserting that even prominent BJP leaders like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje would consider forming their own parties if this section were abolished.

Kejriwal’s comments come amidst heightened political tensions, with his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) engaging in a motion of confidence during the budget session of the Delhi Assembly. Kejriwal asserted that the AAP posed the biggest challenge to the BJP and highlighted alleged attempts by the saffron party to poach AAP’s MLAs in an effort to topple his government.

The motion of confidence, brought forward despite AAP’s majority in the House, passed through a voice vote, with 54 out of 62 AAP MLAs present during the voting. Kejriwal emphasized that no AAP MLA had defected, attributing their absence to various reasons including incarceration and illness.

Kejriwal’s appearance before the Rouse Avenue Court via virtual means, due to his commitment to the confidence motion and the ongoing budget session, underscored the multifaceted challenges facing the AAP leader.

Furthermore, Kejriwal announced during the lunch meeting that AAP and Congress had mutually agreed to contest separately in Punjab for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, while discussions for a possible alliance in Delhi remained ongoing.

In a separate development, Kejriwal extended his support to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Murmu Soren, who is currently incarcerated in a money laundering case. The telephonic conversation between Kejriwal and Kalpana highlighted the need to unite against what they perceived as the BJP’s concerted efforts to undermine democracy.

Kejriwal’s statements and actions reflect the complex interplay of political dynamics as parties maneuver ahead of crucial elections and grapple with external pressures and internal challenges.