Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva shakes welcomes former Aam Aadmi Party MLA Rajesh Gupta to the BJP, in New Delhi

NEW DELHI: Former two-time Wazirpur MLA Rajesh Gupta joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, quitting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the eve of bypolls in the AAP-run Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Gupta, who was inducted into the BJP by Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, grew emotional as he urged AAP supremo and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to introspect on why “many people” have left the party — and why more may do so in the near future.“…I was left with no choice (but to resign). Many others want to leave – I suggest they should and come to a party which is actually working for the nation. A party which would respect and not ‘use and throw’ its workers,” he said at a press conference with Sachdeva.Gupta then began to choke up and received a pat on his back by Sachdeva, who tried to calm down the ex-AAP leader.“I spoke with you (Sachdeva) only yesterday. I am a nobody — a defeated MLA — yet the love and respect you showed me moved me. The party I was in… its chief never spoke to me, never visited my home, never even called. Arvind ji, you will have to introspect on why people are leaving you. We always stood by you, and this is how my loyalty was rewarded,” he added.Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj, in a post on X, extended his best wishes to Gupta on joining the BJP. He alleged that Gupta had been seeking an Ashok Vihar ward ticket for his wife and left the party after the request was denied. Gupta, a former MLA, also served as a national spokesperson for the AAP, headed its Karnataka unit, and was a vice-president in the party.(With PTI inputs)