Swati Maliwal Defends Exit from AAP, Levels Serious Allegations Against Kejriwal

New Delhi, April 2026 : A day after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, former Aam Aadmi Party leader Swati Maliwal launched a sharp attack on party convener Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of corruption, intimidation, and abandoning the core principles on which the party was founded.

Speaking a day after her political switch, Maliwal asserted that her decision to leave AAP was driven by personal conviction rather than any external pressure. She said she had dedicated nearly two decades of her life to the party and its leadership, only to feel disillusioned in recent years.

Recalling her early association with Kejriwal, Maliwal said she began working with him in 2006, long before the formation of AAP. She described how she left her home and job, and spent years working at the grassroots level, including living in slum areas, to support anti-corruption movements and public campaigns spearheaded by Kejriwal.

However, she alleged that the party has since strayed far from its original ideals. Referring to an incident from 2024, Maliwal claimed that she was physically assaulted by individuals associated with Kejriwal at his residence. She further alleged that when she attempted to file a complaint, she faced threats and sustained pressure to withdraw the FIR over an extended period.

Maliwal also accused Kejriwal of being insensitive towards women, describing him as “anti-woman” and alleging that her concerns were repeatedly ignored within the party. She claimed that despite raising issues internally for nearly two years, there was no willingness within the leadership to address them.

According to her, the party has been overtaken by what she described as a “money-driven system,” making meaningful reform impossible. She argued that many capable and sincere individuals have already distanced themselves from AAP for similar reasons, adding that even numerous grassroots volunteers have quietly exited the party over time.

Criticising the shift in the party’s culture, Maliwal said that the simplicity and integrity that once defined AAP have eroded. She alleged that Kejriwal now prioritises a more comfortable and luxurious lifestyle, in contrast to the values he once promoted.

Turning her focus to governance in Punjab, Maliwal accused Kejriwal of exercising indirect control over the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. She alleged that key appointments were influenced from outside the state and claimed that individuals close to Kejriwal were being given significant roles, sidelining local leadership.

She further accused the AAP government in Punjab of being plagued by corruption, alleging the proliferation of illegal sand mining and the influence of drug networks. According to her, the state was being misused for political and financial purposes, a situation she claimed would not be forgiven by the people of Punjab.

Maliwal also raised concerns about her role in Parliament, stating that despite being the only woman MP from AAP in the Rajya Sabha, she was not given adequate opportunities to speak. She said it was only after intervention from the Chair that she was able to participate meaningfully in discussions, including on sensitive issues like child protection laws.

Predicting further turmoil within AAP, Maliwal claimed that dissatisfaction among leaders is widespread and warned that the party could face a significant internal collapse in the near future.

In contrast, she expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising what she described as decisive governance at the national level. She stated her intention to work under the guidance of Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, reiterating that her decision to join the BJP was entirely voluntary.

The developments mark a significant escalation in political tensions, with Maliwal’s allegations adding a new dimension to the ongoing crisis within AAP following the high-profile defection of multiple senior leaders.