Capt. G.R. Gopinath, who joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) about five months ago, has resigned from the party following differences with its convener Arvind Kejriwal. He has sent across his resignation to the party’s Karnataka convener, Prithvi Reddy.
Capt. Gopinath, who is in France at present, told The Hindu he had joined the AAP believing it was a party with a difference. “The anti-corruption campaign, which it launched, came across as a breath of fresh air. However, I have had a series of differences on certain matters and I have brought it to the notice of people concerned. I am not in favour of the recent actions of Mr. Kejriwal, and have decided to quit. The party head cannot just shoot and scoot in politics,” he said. With reference to the defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari and the steps taken by Mr. Kejriwal in handling the case, he said: “It is a court-related matter and the arrest has been ordered by the court. The BJP has no role in the matter.”
The State unit of the AAP said Capt. Gopinath’s resignation would not have an impact on its functioning. Mr. Prithvi Reddy said: “Capt. Gopinath joined on his own free will after AAP’s victory in Delhi, and now he has resigned after the party’s poor performance in general elections. He should know that it is under the same leadership that the party had won in Delhi,” he said.
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