Raaj Kumar Anand said he would not be going to any other party.

In a major blow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand today resigned from both his position as well as the party citing what he perceived as a stark departure from the party”s original ethos as an anti-corruption crusader to one involved in corruption scandals. His decision was fueled by the recent developments surrounding the Delhi liquor policy case, which led to the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his former deputy Manish Sisodia.

Anand, representing the Patel Nagar constituency, becomes the inaugural Delhi government minister to resign directly due to the fallout from Kejriwal”s arrest and the ongoing liquor policy debacle.

Anand, representing the Patel Nagar constituency, became the first Delhi minister to resign following Kejriwal”s arrest in the now-scrapped liquor policy case.

“The party was born to fight corruption but today the party itself is mired in corruption. I can”t work in this government and I don”t want my name to be associated with this corruption. That”s why I have decided to quit,” said Anand, who was the social welfare, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes minister.

Reflecting on the transformation within the party, Anand recalled, “Arvind Kejriwal once said at Ramlila Maidan, Jantar Mantar “the country will change if the politics changes”. Today the politics didn”t change but the politician changed,” Raaj Kumar Anand said.

Anand also accused AAP of discriminatory practices in appointing leadership roles within the party.

“There is no Dalit MLA or councillor in the Aam Aadmi Party. Dalit leaders are not even appointed to leadership positions. I follow the principles of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. If I cannot work for Dalits, then there is no point in being in the party,” Anand told reporters in Delhi.

“I came to politics and then became a minister because of Babasaheb Ambedkar. I wanted to pay back to the society. I do not want to be in a party that takes a backseat as far as Dalit representation is concerned,” Raaj Kumar Anand said.

Meanwhile, Anand, who resigned over corruption, was visited by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2023, in connection with a customs- money laundering case. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had previously lodged a complaint with a local court, alleging false declarations in imports amounting to customs evasions exceeding Rs 7 crore. Subsequently, the ED initiated legal action against Anand.

Anand’s resignation coincided with Delhi Minister Atishi’s claims that she had been approached by BJP. However, her claims were refuted by the BJP, which has filed a defamation suit against her and followed it up with a complaint with the Election Commission, which has sent a notice.

Anand said he would not be going to any other party.

With Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in jail, it is unclear how the vacant portfolio will be assigned.