Angered by the BJP government’s betrayal of Delhiites, senior BJP leaders Anil Rawat and Pooja Sharma joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday. At the AAP headquarters, senior leader and former Delhi minister Somnath Bharti inducted both leaders and their teams into the party, presenting them with the AAP cap and patka (scarf).
Somnath Bharti said the growing resentment among BJP workers reflects the party’s failure to fulfil its promises — from ₹2,500 for women and free gas cylinders on festivals to tackling pollution. He added that Anil Rawat and Pooja Sharma will now carry Arvind Kejriwal’s honest politics to every household and work for the people of Delhi.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters, senior leader and former Delhi Minister Somnath Bharti extended greetings to all Delhiites on the occasion of Kharna, the second day of Chhath Puja, and said that the strength and survival of any political party depends on its grassroots workers.
The senior AAP leader reminded that when the BJP came to power in Delhi, it made grand promises — ₹2,500 per month for women, free gas cylinders on Holi and Diwali, elimination of pollution, and many others. “But after seven to eight months, Delhi’s people are in distress. The BJP has failed to deliver even a single promise. Both citizens and BJP workers are frustrated. Party workers are now unable to face the public, because people keep asking when they will receive ₹2,500, when the free cylinders will come, and when pollution will end,” he said.
Somnath Bharti further stated that the BJP manipulated pollution data by spraying water around pollution monitoring stations to distort readings. “If dishonesty were a degree, the BJP would hold a PhD in it,” he remarked. “To bring down a massive building, you only need to remove a few bricks — and in politics, the workers are that foundation. When they begin to leave, the party starts to crumble.” He announced that two hardworking BJP leaders — Anil Rawat (also known as Anil Gurjar) and Pooja Sharma — along with their entire teams, have joined the AAP because the public keeps asking them why life has become miserable without Arvind Kejriwal’s government. “Homes of the poor are being demolished, dirty water flows through taps, sewers remain clogged, and roads are in ruins,” Somnath Bharti said.
Detailing their backgrounds, Somnath Bharti said that Anil Gurjar had been active in the BJP for 30 years, having served as President of Hauz Khas Mandal, District Minister of New Delhi, and Youth Wing President and General Secretary of Hauz Khas Mandal. “Today, Anil Gurjar and his team have lost faith in the BJP’s deceitful politics,” he said.
Speaking about Pooja Sharma, Somnath Bharti noted that she hails from Basant Gaon and has been an independent social worker. She previously held key roles such as Mandal Vice President (Vasant Vihar Ward) in the BJP and served as founder of Niharika Foundation, General Secretary of Rashtriya Hit Manch, Youth General Secretary of Rashtrawadi Brahman Mahasangh, Minister in Rashtriya Parshuram Parishad Shakti Vahini, Vice President of Delhi Pradesh Human Rights Council, and Delhi Secretary of Shiksha Abhiyan. “For the last eight years, she has been a dedicated BJP worker and played a major role in helping ministers, MPs, and MLAs win elections,” he added.
Somnath Bharti said both leaders were disillusioned by the BJP’s dishonesty and have joined AAP to truly serve the people. “In the 12 years of AAP’s legislative journey, people have never felt our MLAs are distant politicians — they live among the people. In contrast, BJP leaders are completely disconnected from citizens, and it is their workers who are paying the price for it,” he said.
Welcoming Anil Gurjar and Pooja Sharma into AAP along with their teams, Bharti said, “They will take Arvind Kejriwal’s honest politics to every household in Delhi. In AAP, they will have every opportunity to serve the people — especially in the areas of education, health, electricity, and water — where AAP’s leadership stands shoulder to shoulder with the common man.”
Concluding his address, Somnath Bharti warmly welcomed both leaders and their teams, expressing confidence that they would serve the people of Delhi with full dedication and commitment.
