Guwahati, 18th May: During a media briefing on May 17 in Odisha, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal for inconsistent responses to the Swati Maliwal case. Sarma accused Kejriwal of using dubious tactics and questioned the coherence within AAP’s leadership.
“Earlier, Kejriwal ji contested elections in Goa and Punjab with money from the liquor scam. Now, on Swati Maliwal ji’s issue, his right-hand Sanjay Singh and left-hand Atishi are making different statements,” Sarma remarked, highlighting the discrepancies in AAP’s stance on the matter.
Sarma expressed doubts about the leadership’s unity, pointing out conflicting statements from key party figures. “The second leader of AAP after Kejriwal is Sanjay Singh. He, in a press conference, said that Swati Maliwal was physically assaulted. Now you decide whom to believe, either Atishi or Sanjay. Let alone Kejriwal decide who is speaking for him, Atishi or Sanjay Singh. It’s not possible that a person’s left hand will say something and the right hand will say something else,” he added.
Sarma also criticized Kejriwal’s political maneuvers, stating, “Kejriwal has been doing this kind of dirty politics forever, but the people of India are politically intelligent enough to identify the difference between white and black. He shouldn’t think of us as politically immature.”
On May 16, Sarma had accused Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal of criminal behavior following the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Maliwal claimed she was assaulted at Kejriwal’s residence by his close aide Bibhav Kumar on May 13. The incident led to a swift response from the Delhi Police, who were alerted by Maliwal’s distress call.
The controversy intensified with Bibhav Kumar’s recent dismissal by the Delhi Vigilance Department due to an “illegal appointment,” related to a 2007 case of assault and obstruction of a public servant.
The incident has sparked further political debate, with BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya criticizing Maliwal for her previous silence on Kejriwal’s arrest. Malviya highlighted Maliwal’s absence and lack of response during Kejriwal’s legal troubles, noting her extended time abroad.
This developing situation continues to raise questions about the internal dynamics of AAP and the potential political ramifications for its leadership.
Read More: Meghalaya: Shillong Medical College to Open by September 2025, Tura Medical College by 2026-2027