BJP councillor Kartar Singh Tanwar joins Aam Aadmi Party

NEW DELHI: With elections drawing near, two major political parties have started witnessing crossovers. On a day when four former Aam Aadmi Party members joined BJP, five members of BJP, Congress and BSP swore allegiance to AAP.

Of the two from BJP who joined AAP on Tuesday, former chairman of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation standing committee and BJP councillor of Bhati (Chattarpur), Kartar Singh Tanwar, said that he had been highly impressed with the latter's fight against corruption. "In its 49 days in government, there was a marked decrease in corrupt practices. I believe this is one party that can really uplift the poor," he said. The two time councillor said that he would expose BJP's "corrupt rule" in the municipal corporations.

Former BJP youth leader Vijay Bansal, who has been the state secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, was the other one to join AAP.

Two others with BSP affiliations also joined AAP. These included councillor Reeta Chauhan, who represents Bakhtawarpur ward in Narela assembly constituency. She is currently an independent and had quit BSP in 2012. Another BSP member from Narela, Sharad Kumar Chauhan, also joined the party. Congress member from Mundka assembly constituency, Dharampal Lakra, who has been a member of the Food Corporation of India and a former secretary of District Congress Committee, also joined AAP.

Tuesday also saw the party's fund collection see a spurt. Till 10pm, AAP had received Rs 13.75 lakh in online donations. Party sources said Wednesday was the party's second birthday, a day when it was named and also which it will now celebrate as women's empowerment day. AAP will be conducting its second Delhi Dialogue, this time on women's issues, to mark this day.