The ruling BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were at loggerheads on Wednesday on the issue of cancellation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Gujarat visit next month.

Controversy erupted after the Gujarat unit of AAP blamed the ruling party of using pressure tactic to stop AAP supremo from visiting  Gujarat. The AAP leadership alleged that Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office was instrumental in cancellation of booking order for Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Convention Hall where Kejriwal was to meet textile and diamond traders.

Tussle between the two part initiated after a Press conference of Delhi MlA Gulab Yadav and Gujarat AAP convener Kanu Kalasaria on Wednesday morning. Both the AAP leaders claimed that as part of political vendetta, the organiser was pressurised to cancel the booking. They blamed that the cancellation of convention hall booking was orchestrated on the direction of Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office from Gandhinagar. Kalsaria further said despite such pressure tactic Kejriwal would not discourage to come to Gujarat and plan his visit in near future.

However, not being disheartened by the developments, the State AAP unit has decided to hold Kejriwal’s mega rally in the State in next two months when the party will kick-start its campaign for the State elections.

“We will hold a mega rally in Gujarat to kick-start our campaign for the State polls in which Kejriwal will remain present. He has decided not to visit Somnath also as Surat visit has been cancelled,” said Gulab Yadav.Kejriwal was to meet textile and diamond merchant at the Convention Hall on July 10. He was to kick-start AAP’s poll campaign by offering prayer at the ancient Somnath Temple. 

Training his guns on Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, senior AAP leader Ashutosh said the BJP was “scarred” as AAP was emerging as a real alternative. “A scared Anandiben Patel’s Government has threatened the Vice-Chancellor to cancel the venue for Kejriwal’s meeting. BJP’s days are numbered in Gujarat,” he said.

Incidentally,   Kejriwal has  extended a tacit support to Patidar leader Hardik Patel  by opposing sedition charges against him.

Meanwhile, State BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said the BJP had nothing to do with Kejriwal  or any political party’s leader’s visit to Gujarat as everyone is free for campaigning and contesting elections. “It is nothing but publicity stunt. First the AAP got publicity by announcing his visit. Now they are in a bid to get noticed by cancelling it,” he said.

The BJP also said the AAP leadership was trying to shield their failure as there was not much response from people to the proposed  visit of the top leader of AAP. State BJP in a written statement said, “Still 12 days are remaining for Kejriwal’s visit. There is plethora of venues in Surat to organise his function. Even the university authority has clarified that the organiser through written application demanded his deposit back in order to cancel the hall booking.”