Former Delhi cabinet minister Kailash Gahlot joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, a day after he quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing the latter of “compromising on its original values”, “picking constant fights with the central government”, and that the “aam aadmi” (common man) has become “khaas” (special).

BJP leaders including Union ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Harsh Malhotra, and Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva welcomed Gahlot into the party. In response, AAP chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Gahlot is free to go and join any party.”

Gahlot joined the BJP at its national headquarters on DDU Marg. “Former minister Kailash Gahlot has joined the BJP. This is a turning point in Delhi’s politics as a senior minister of the Delhi government has joined the BJP. I am sure that you must have seen the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP before taking the decision to join us. I welcome you to the party,” Khattar said.