Rajkumari Dhillon, the outgoing AAP MLA from the Hari Nagar constituency, expressed deep disappointment and frustration on Friday after she was unexpectedly denied a party ticket for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. Initially, Dhillon had been announced as the AAP candidate for the Hari Nagar constituency on December 15, prompting her to begin campaigning immediately. However, just a month later, on January 15, Dhillon was informed that she was being replaced by Surinder Setia, a move that left her feeling both hurt and betrayed.
During a press conference, Dhillon openly voiced her dissatisfaction with the decision, explaining that she had worked tirelessly for the party and had fully invested herself in the campaign, even before the official announcement of her candidacy. She was blindsided by the sudden replacement without any explanation or clear reasoning provided by the party leadership. “I was given the ticket on December 15, and immediately afterward, I began campaigning for the party. However, I later received a call informing me that I was being replaced by Surinder Setia for the Hari Nagar constituency,” Dhillon said, her voice filled with frustration.
In response to this abrupt decision, Dhillon filed her nomination as an Independent candidate on January 17. She made the announcement on social media platform X, where she pledged to continue fighting for the “honour and self-respect” of the people of Hari Nagar, stressing that this step was not only about her but about the dignity of her constituents. "Dear Harinagar Assembly family, today, with your unwavering support and affection, I have filed my nomination as an independent candidate. This step is not for me, but a fight for the honour and self-respect of the people of Harinagar,” Dhillon wrote in her post.
Recalling her tenure as the sitting MLA, Dhillon reflected on her work in the constituency, mentioning how she had always considered the problems and concerns of her constituents as her own. She noted that she had stood by the people of Hari Nagar through their moments of joy and sorrow, fully dedicating herself to their needs. “In the last 5 years, I have considered all your problems as my own and stood by you in every happiness and sorrow,” Dhillon said, adding that the betrayal she felt had left her shaken, and yet, she continued to seek support from the residents of Hari Nagar in this battle. "Today, when you and I have been betrayed, I appeal to you to stand by me in this fight,” she urged.
Since her ticket snub, Dhillon has been vocal about her grievances and has launched a scathing attack on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, accusing the party of engaging in corrupt practices. She alleged that the Hari Nagar ticket had been “sold” to Setia for a hefty sum of money. Dhillon’s strong accusations also extended to the party’s approach to politics, which she claims is more business-oriented than politically driven. “This is the real face of Kejriwal. Aam Aadmi Party is doing business, not politics. First, he made his strong candidate campaign for the election for months and finally sold the Harinagar Assembly ticket to another candidate for crores of rupees,” Dhillon alleged in a post on X.
Her words carried an emotional charge as she drew a parallel to the mythological tales of betrayal, invoking the stories of Sita and Draupadi. Dhillon likened her current situation to their struggles, stating, "When Sita cried, Lanka burned to ashes. When Draupadi cried, the Kauravas were destroyed. Today the aunt from Harinagar is crying, and now your destruction is also certain, Kejriwal!" She boldly framed her fight not just as her own, but as a larger cause for every woman who has suffered under corrupt political practices. "This is not just my fight, it is the fight of every woman who has to suffer humiliation due to corrupt politics," Dhillon passionately declared.
Dhillon, who won the Hari Nagar seat in the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections by defeating BJP's Tajinder Bagga, is now gearing up for a challenging political contest as an Independent candidate. The AAP, however, has remained silent on Dhillon’s allegations. Party sources suggest that the decision to replace Dhillon was based on feedback from internal reports that assessed campaign performance and candidate prospects for the upcoming elections. In addition to Dhillon, the AAP also replaced Dinesh Bhardwaj with Sharad Chauhan in Narela as part of a broader reshuffle of candidates across Delhi.
Despite the lack of a formal response from the AAP, Dhillon’s accusations have raised questions about the party’s internal dynamics and the perceived commercialization of electoral politics within AAP. Her move to contest as an Independent candidate signals that the fallout from the ticket reshuffling could have broader implications for the party’s image and its appeal to voters who feel disillusioned by what they see as internal corruption. As Dhillon’s battle for the Hari Nagar seat continues, her rhetoric against Kejriwal and the AAP leadership is likely to resonate with many voters who are increasingly questioning the party's political integrity. With the elections just around the corner, Dhillon’s fight for justice and her stand against alleged corruption may play a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Delhi.
