Chandigarh: In a significant blow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, Pravesh Mehta, the party's candidate from Faridabad, has officially joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The announcement was made during a large public meeting held at Purani Anaj Mandi in Old Faridabad on Saturday.
At the event, Mehta, 69, was welcomed into the BJP by Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Faridabad, along with senior BJP leader Vipul Goel, the party's candidate for the Faridabad constituency in the upcoming election.
“Today, during a huge public meeting, Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate from Faridabad Assembly, Pravesh Mehta, along with thousands of his supporters, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party," Goel announced on social media platform X. "I heartily welcome and congratulate Pravesh Mehta Ji into the BJP family." Goel expressed confidence that Mehta’s switch would bolster the BJP's position in the region.
Mehta’s departure is another hurdle for AAP as the party prepares to contest the Haryana Assembly elections slated for October 5, 2023, independently. The loss of an experienced candidate like Mehta raises questions about AAP's strategy and potential in a competitive political landscape. As the election approaches, both AAP and BJP will be keenly focused on rallying support and navigating the shifting dynamics of voter sentiment in Haryana.