AAP's Raghuvinder Shokeen inducted in Delhi cabinet, replaces Kailash Gahlot

Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said Raghuvinder Shokeen will replace Kailash Gahlot as a cabinet minister. Shokeen is an MLA from Nangloi Jat.

Nangloi Jat MLA Raghuvinder Shokeen will be the new Cabinet minister in the Atishi government, the ruling AAP said on Monday. Shokeen is a Jat leader from outer Delhi.



The development comes a day after AAP's prominent Jat leader and Transport minister Kailash Gahlot quit the party.

Moving in quickly to control the damage caused due to Gahlot's exit, the AAP announced induction of Shokeen.

Kailash Galhot resignation

Gahlot quit the party on Sunday. In his resignation letter, Gahlot, a prominent figure in the AAP, cited recent controversies facing the party and unfulfilled promises.

Kailash Gahlot on Monday joined BJP, a day after quitting Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP.

In a letter to party convener Arvind Kejriwal, Gahlot said, "Aam Aadmi Party faces grave challenges. Challenges from within, to the very values that brought us together to AAP."


He said, "Political ambitions have overtaken our commitment towards people, leaving many promises unfulfilled. Take for example the YAMUNA, which we had promised to transform into a clean river, but never got around to doing it. Now the Yamuna River is perhaps even more polluted than ever before."

Apart from this, now there are many "embarrassing and awkward controversies like the Sheeshmahal", which are now making everyone doubt whether "we still believe in being the Aam Aadmi", he wrote in his letter.

"Another painful point has been the fact that instead of fighting for people's rights we have increasingly only been fighting for our own political agenda. This has severely crippled our ability to even deliver basic services to the people of Delhi. It is now obvious that real progress for Delhi cannot happen if the Delhi Government spends majority of its time fighting with the Centre."

He further said, "I had started my political journey with the commitment to serve the people of Delhi and I want to continue doing that. Which is why, I find myself left with no option but to step away from AAP and hence I resign from primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party."