Arvind Kejriwal claims that multiple AAP members were detained in Gujarat and requests a meeting with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

On Thursday, April 2, Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal reached out to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to request a meeting regarding the increasing number of arrests of grassroots party leaders in the state over the past 48 hours.

Kejriwal’s letter stated that 160 AAP members had been detained in Gujarat, with claims that the state government intended to arrest an additional 10,000 party workers. He expressed that the Bharatiya Janata Party was “disturbed by the rising popularity of AAP.”

गुजरात के मुख्यमंत्री श्री भूपेंद्र पटेल जी को मैंने पत्र लिखकर मिलने का समय मांगा है।

गुजरात में पंचायत और नगर पालिका चुनावों के पहले अवैध रूप से बहुत बड़े स्तर पर हमारे कार्यकर्ताओं को गिरफ्तार किया जा रहा है। 160 से अधिक कार्यकर्ताओं को गिरफ्तार किया जा चुका है और अभी दस… pic.twitter.com/ieXswYN6hs

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 2, 2026 

In the meantime, Gujarat AAP chief Isudan Gadhvi informed reporters that the BJP had grown apprehensive of AAP and was deploying the police to target its workers.
Gadhvi reported that an FIR was lodged against one of his party workers in Khambhalia, prompting the AAP team to protest at the police station against what they termed unjust arrests. He alleged that the police subsequently detained the entire team, on the grounds that they had been arrested, before releasing them on bail later that night.

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He further asserted that party members remained steadfast and would continue to advocate for the rights of the underprivileged, farmers, and laborers. Gadhvi claimed that citizens across Gujarat were showing support for the party and encouraged voters to back AAP in the forthcoming elections.

Separately, during a public rally in Jamnagar, Kejriwal accused the BJP of “exploiting Gujarat” and alleged a collaboration between the BJP and the Indian National Congress to weaken the state.

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The former Delhi chief minister argued that numerous government departments in Gujarat had become significantly corrupt, asserting that the BJP had “damaged” schools and hospitals, and that work within government departments often required bribes. He also charged the Congress with facilitating this situation, claiming both parties had leaders with overlapping business interests and that the Congress did not want to see the BJP lose power.