Kejriwal appoints Raghuvinder Shokeen as minister after Kailash Gehlot quits AAP

Shokeen, a former BJP leader, joined AAP in 2021 and was considered close to Gehlot.

Gehlot resigned from AAP and as Delhi minister on Tuesday, citing "personal reasons".

New Delhi: A day after senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kailash Gehlot resigned from the party and as Delhi minister, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday appointed Raghuvinder Shokeen, a former BJP leader, as his replacement.

Shokeen, who joined AAP in 2021, was considered close to Gehlot. He was inducted into the Delhi cabinet on Wednesday and given the portfolios of Transport, Revenue, and Food and Supplies.

Gehlot's resignation has come as a surprise to many, and the reasons for his departure are still unclear. In his resignation letter to Kejriwal, Gehlot said that he was leaving the party and his ministerial post due to "personal reasons".

However, sources close to Gehlot said that he was unhappy with the way the party was being run and had been sidelined by Kejriwal in recent months.

Shokeen's appointment as minister is seen as an attempt by Kejriwal to appease the Jat community, which forms a significant vote bank in Delhi. Shokeen is a Jat leader from Haryana and is expected to help AAP consolidate its support among the community.

The AAP has been facing a string of resignations in recent months, including that of former spokesperson Ashutosh and former Delhi minister Kapil Mishra.

The party is also facing allegations of corruption and nepotism, which have damaged its image among voters.