New Delhi:
In a fresh twist to the escalating tensions between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday raided the home of senior AAP leader Durgesh Pathak. The move comes just days after Pathak was appointed as co-in-charge of AAP’s campaign for the crucial 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections. The agency is probing alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), with sources revealing that the case was filed merely 24 hours before the raid.
This development adds yet another layer to the ongoing scrutiny of AAP leaders, many of whom are already embroiled in legal troubles. Most notably, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is being investigated in the now-infamous Delhi excise policy case. Senior AAP leaders were quick to condemn the CBI action, branding it a “political vendetta” aimed at crippling the opposition’s growing influence.
“This is nothing but an orchestrated effort to derail our Gujarat strategy,” said Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. He alleged that the BJP, unnerved by AAP’s increasing popularity in the Prime Minister’s home state, is misusing central agencies to intimidate key figures in the party.
Durgesh Pathak, a core member of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee, has remained silent on the matter, but the party has stood firmly behind him. Sandeep Pathak, the party’s National Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, stated, “The BJP’s panic is showing. Raids like this only validate our rising acceptance among voters in Gujarat.”
In the 2022 Gujarat elections, AAP made a noteworthy entry into the state’s political arena, capturing five assembly seats and nearly 13% of the vote share. The party now sees the 2027 elections as a springboard for national expansion, especially after mixed performances in other regions.
Sanjay Singh further criticized the raid, stating, “This is a desperate attempt by a government that sees its grip loosening. First, they jailed Arvind Kejriwal. Now they’re targeting our Gujarat team. The BJP wants to stop us, but we’re not backing down.”
Meanwhile, the BJP hit back strongly. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva resurrected old accusations linked to AAP’s campaign in Goa, where Pathak also played a central role. “Everyone remembers how unaccounted funds were used during the Goa elections. The liquor scam is just the tip of the iceberg. Arvind Kejriwal is more corrupt than Lalu Yadav,” he claimed.
AAP’s 2022 showing in Goa—where it garnered 6.77% of the vote and secured two seats—helped the party gain national party status. However, the growing spotlight also appears to have made it a recurring target for investigative scrutiny.
With the 2027 Gujarat elections on the horizon, the political chessboard is heating up. Whether the CBI’s action will slow down AAP’s momentum or further energize its cadre remains to be seen.
