NEW DELHI: The CBI on Thursday launched searches at the premises of AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak and 2027 Gujarat assembly poll in-charge in connection with a case registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), news agency ANI reported.
Last month, the Aam Aadmi Party had appointed senior leaders Durgesh Pathak and Gopal Rai as in-charges for the 2027 Gujarat assembly elections, signaling its intent to expand its footprint in the BJP stronghold.
The party has been gradually strengthening its presence in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.
AAP currently serves in the opposition in the Surat Municipal Corporation, as well as in the municipalities of Salaya and Karjan.
The party also has four MLAs in the Gujarat assembly.
Following the raids, political tensions escalated after AAP alleged that the BJP-led central government is misusing investigative agencies to target its leaders in Gujarat.
The party decribed it as a politically-motivated move.
AAP accused the Centre of resorting to pressure tactics due to the BJP’s “shrinking base” and AAP’s “growing popularity” in Gujarat.
“Fearing AAP’s rise, the Modi government has sent the ‘caged parrot’ — the CBI — after our leaders,” the party posted on X.
“We are followers of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. We will not be intimidated by the tyranny of a dictator,” the party said.
