Swati Maliwal of AAP Seen at Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s Inauguration Ceremony
New Delhi:
Swati Maliwal, an AAP MP and former head of the Delhi Commission for Women, made headlines when she attended the swearing-in ceremony of Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi at Ramlila Maidan. The event, which was attended by several high-profile political figures, including Ms. Maliwal, showcased a moment of interaction between her and Devender Yadav, the Delhi unit chief of the Congress party.
Background of Swati Maliwal:
Swati Maliwal, who was once a close aide of Arvind Kejriwal, has recently become a vocal critic of the AAP leader. The rift between them began in May last year when she accused one of Kejriwal’s aides, Bibhav Kumar, of assault. She alleged that she was physically beaten by Mr. Kumar during a meeting at Kejriwal’s residence to discuss party issues.
Ms. Maliwal’s criticism of Kejriwal intensified during the Haryana election in October 2024, where she accused him of betraying the Congress-led INDIA bloc by leading the AAP into a solo contest, resulting in a significant defeat for the party. She also staged a protest outside Kejriwal’s residence ahead of the recent Delhi election, demanding action against him for failing to clean the Yamuna River, a promise he had made before the 2020 poll.
Recent Controversy:
Following the announcement of the Delhi election results, Swati Maliwal took aim at Arvind Kejriwal on social media, implying that his defeat was a result of arrogance and neglect of the people’s needs. She criticized Kejriwal for his lack of commitment to internal party democracy and accused him of resorting to lies and violence to maintain power.
“I feel if a person gets extremely arrogant and stops working for the people, then the people teach that man a lesson. That is exactly what has happened with Arvind Kejriwal today,” she stated.
Swati Maliwal’s presence at the swearing-in ceremony of Rekha Gupta, along with her public criticism of Arvind Kejriwal, highlights the internal divisions within the AAP and the evolving dynamics of politics in Delhi.