In a big jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party in Karnataka ahead of the Assembly polls, its prominent face and former Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Wednesday joined the ruling BJP in the state, just 11 months after he had entered AAP.
Rao joined the AAP 11 months ago in Delhi in the presence of the party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
After joining the BJP in the presence of BJP state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel today, the retired IPS officer said
Rao claimed that there is no scope for his growth in the party and they are not even serious about contesting upcoming elections. “I told them that there should be different wings in the party– SC-ST wing, student wing, OBC wing, minority wing, women wing and others but no one paid heed to it. They just don’t want to grow. They are not even serious about contesting upcoming elections,” said Rao.
The former cop likened the AAP to a Multi-national Corporation which is run only by a small group of people who are “paid” leaders.
“AAP is run as a Multi-national Corporation only by a small group of people who are paid leaders. Donations are collected saying we are fighting corruption. People also think they need opposition and give money to them but this money is not used for making the party grow. What is going on in Karnataka is not heard over there, who else do you blame the chief that’s all?” added Rao.
Rao said only BJP can strengthen India and bring back the lost glory.
“We all should join hands to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is striving to make ‘Ek Bharat, Samruddh Bharat’ (One India, Prosperous India). I am also impressed by the prominence given to youth and women in the BJP,” Rao said.
“I think I can contribute more to BJP. It has a huge pan-India presence. PM Modi’s vision inspired me to join the party. AAP isn’t distant to grow, they are in hands of a coterie, it’s shameful two of its ministers are in jail. There’s no clarity in the party,” Rao added.
Bengaluru: I think I can contribute more to BJP. It has huge pan-India presence. PM Modi's vision inspired me to join the party. AAP isn't distant to grow, they are in hands of a coterie, it's shameful two of their ministers are in jail. There's no clarity in party: Bhaskar Rao https://t.co/tgV5MjKSOG pic.twitter.com/oV6fdOG1g7— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2023
Rao also said he will seek the guidance of Kateel, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former CM B S Yediyurappa, and other senior BJP leaders.
Rao’s resignation comes ahead of Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Davangere in Karnataka on March 4.
BJP state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel said Rao has accepted the ideology and philosophy of the BJP after gaining one year of political experience in AAP, adding that the retired IPS officer is impressed by the functioning of the party under the leadership of Modi at the national level and Bommai at the state level.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
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