AAP MLAs move from autos to swanky cars
The AAP MLAs, who had arrived in auto-rickshaws, Delhi Metro and Maruti cars just 10 months ago, landed up in swanky vehicles this time.
Not only this. Even AAP and BJP legislators were seen busy shaking hands and exchanging greetings with each other. Former Congress legislator from Okhla Asif Mohammed offered his seat to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, saying “Sir, please be seated here. Sir, Please.”
Mr Kejriwal, as revealed in a series of candid PTI photographs, had lost his seat to BJP MLA Sahab Singh Chauhan, who was caught on camera throwing away the slip with Kejriwal’s name attached to the seat next to that of Speaker M.S. Dhir. Mr Chauhan then offered to share his seat with the former chief minister.
Mr Kejriwal, wearing his party’s white signature cap, had to sit next to his rebel AAP legislator Vinod Kumar Binny and Janata Dal (U) member Shoaib Iqbal was also sitting next to him.
Some 10 minutes later, Mr Kejriwal was made to sit with Speaker Dhir on one side and Mr Chauhan on the other. Even Mr Sisodia, who was seated in a corner, got up and stood behind Mr Asif Mohd.
Legislators started assembling at the Assembly lawns from 4 pm. Of the 67 members, 52 were present for the photo-shoot. After the photo-shoot, nine more legislators turned up.
Both Mr Kejriwal, who used to travel by his Maruti car, along with police escort, and former minister Rakhi Birla, the youngest AAP member who had attended the first session in a auto-rickshaw, arrived in their Innova cars.
Senior AAP leader and former education minister Manish Sisodia arrived in his Maruti Swift car, AAP’s Patel Nagar member Veena Anand made it to the venue in her Fortuner, the party’s Kasturba Nagar member arrived in his Pajero, and AAP Delhi Cantonment member Surender landed up in his Bolero.
Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely and AAP Rohini MLA Rajesh Garg, who used to travel in his battery-operated rickshaw, did not attend the function. It was the party’s former controversial minister, Somnath Bharti, who arrived by the Delhi Metro, but he left the venue in the Balero of his Delhi Cantonment colleague.
AAP Trilokpuri MLA Ranu Dhingan arrived in Maruti Suzuki SX-4. Incidentally, Mr Dhingan was unemployed before he contested the Assembly poll. Last year, he had Rs 5,000 in cash and Rs 1,001 in his bank account. His wife had Rs 122 and the children Rs 19 in their respective bank accounts. Last year, he owned about Rs 40,000 as dues to the power companies.
Mr Kejriwal was the first member to leave the venue. As the MLAs settled for tea and snacks, Mr Bharti said that one thing which had changed in his life was before winning the elections he was perfectly fit. “Now, I am a diabetic patient.” more