Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday firmly stated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would contest the upcoming Delhi elections independently. “AAP will fight this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress,” Kejriwal declared, putting to rest speculations about a coalition with the grand old party.
"The Aam Aadmi Party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with the Congress," Kejriwal said.
AAP unveils its second list of candidates
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday unveiled its second list of 20 candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls. The list showed significant changes, replacing 18 sitting MLAs. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who earlier represented Patparganj, will now contest from Jangpura, while Avadh Ojha, an educator and a recent AAP entrant, will take his place in Patparganj.
“For me, politics is a tool for education, integrity, and public good. I am ready to replicate the work done in Patparganj in Jangpura,” said Sisodia. Commenting on the occasion, Delhi Chief Minister Gopal Rai said, “Manish Sisodia is capable of winning anywhere in Delhi.”
Key observations and notable exclusions
Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla has been shifted from Mangolpuri to Madipur, while Rakesh Jatav Dharamrakshak has been elected from his present constituency. Other major changes include:
- Mukesh Goel, leader of the house in the MCD, to contest from Adarsh Nagar, replacing Pawan Sharma.
- Padma Shri awardee Jitender Singh Shunty to contest Shahdara after Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel announced retirement.
- Dilip K Pandey, AAP’s chief whip, was replaced by Surendra Pal Singh Bittu in Timarpur.
- Vikas Bagga, son of Krishna Nagar MLA S K Bagga, to represent Krishna Nagar.
- Pradeep Mittal to contest from Rohini, a seat AAP lost to BJP in 2020.
Many of the first-time candidates are party councilors and workers, reflecting AAP’s focus on grassroots leadership.
Opposition criticism
The BJP and Congress attacked AAP over the reshuffle, calling it a sign of desperation. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva claimed, “If Manish Sisodia has to flee his seat, it’s a clear sign of the AAP’s misgovernance and public dissatisfaction.”
Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav echoed the criticism, accusing AAP of “cosmetic changes” and asserting that voters are angry over Kejriwal’s “misrule.”
