A day after former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she pointed to AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal’s alleged “corruption, hooliganism, and lies” as her motivation. Maliwal emphasized that her move to the BJP was not due to any pressure. Reflecting on her past association with the AAP, Maliwal highlighted her long-standing involvement with Kejriwal dating back to 2006.
Maliwal recounted her sacrifices for the AAP, stating, “I have been working with Arvind Kejriwal since 2006. I left my home, gave up my job, and stayed in jhuggi areas for seven years, supporting him in every movement.” Despite her history with Kejriwal, she reiterated previous accusations from 2024, alleging that she was physically assaulted by Kejriwal’s associates at his residence and faced threats when attempting to file a police report. Additionally, she accused Kejriwal of displaying anti-woman behavior.
Expressing her efforts to reform the AAP over the past two years, Maliwal lamented the prevalence of a “money game” hindering meaningful change within the party. She claimed, “I tried to raise issues in the past two years but nobody listened to me.” Maliwal also referenced the trend of numerous leaders departing the AAP, attributing these exits to a realization of Kejriwal’s alleged dishonesty and corruption.
Maliwal criticized Kejriwal’s shift towards a more luxurious lifestyle, contrasting it with the party’s initial emphasis on simplicity. She alleged that Kejriwal, following the Delhi Assembly election defeat, now exerts undue influence over the Punjab government, appointing rejected Delhi MLAs to key positions in Punjab. Accusing Kejriwal of fostering corruption in Punjab, Maliwal highlighted issues such as illegal sand mining and the drug trade infiltrating the state.
In a scathing assessment of the AAP, Maliwal accused the party of exploiting Punjab for personal gain, predicting that the state’s residents would not forgive the party for its actions. She also claimed that despite being the sole female AAP MP, she was denied speaking time in Parliament for two years until the new Rajya Sabha Chairman intervened. Maliwal concluded by expressing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and her desire to work under his and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s guidance within the BJP.
