January 31, 2025: In a significant setback to Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), seven MLAs resigned from the party just five days before the Delhi Assembly elections. The timing of the resignations has raised questions about the political landscape as the city heads to the polls.

Palam MLA Bhawna Gaur was the first to announce her resignation, addressing a letter to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. In her letter, Gaur stated that she was resigning from the primary membership of the party due to a loss of faith in both Kejriwal and the party. Kasturba Nagar legislator Madan Lal echoed similar sentiments in his resignation letter, citing the same reasons for his departure.

Along with Gaur and Lal, five other AAP MLAs, including Trilokpuri MLA Rohit Mehraulia, Janakpuri MLA Rajesh Rishi, Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav, Adarsh Nagar's Pawan Sharma, and Bijwasan's BS Joon, also announced their exit from the party.

The resignations come after the party decided not to field these legislators in the upcoming 2025 Assembly elections, opting instead to nominate new candidates in their constituencies.

With the Delhi Assembly elections just around the corner, these resignations are expected to impact AAP’s campaign, particularly in the constituencies where these MLAs held influence. The defections also raise questions about internal party dynamics and loyalty, adding another layer of uncertainty to the already highly competitive election race.