All elected representatives of the AAP and its key office bearers from various states discussed the party's pan-India expansion plan at its National Council meeting chaired by party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here on Sunday. The Council discussed at length the efforts taken so far to strengthen the AAP's base in different parts of the country. It also discussed the party's strategy for the upcoming assembly polls due to be held in various states next year, with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, party sources told PTI.
The meeting assumes significance as it comes close after the just-concluded assembly polls in Gujarat, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won five seats and secured nearly 13 percent vote share, becoming eligible for getting National Party status by the Election Commission.
The AAP ended the 15-year rule of the BJP in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by defeating the saffron party in the civic body elections held earlier this month.
According to party sources, the day-long meeting will discuss the party's performance in the Gujarat Assembly polls which was held in two phases on December 1 and December 5. The Gujarat unit of the AAP was hoping to win more than 45 seats in the 182-member Gujarat legislative assembly.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained the biggest gainer in the three-cornered contest as it clinched a historic victory in Gujarat and retained power, winning 156 seats. The Congress remained the main opposition in the state but ended up winning 17 seats and securing 27 per cent vote share with the AAP significantly eating up its space in the assembly elections.
The AAP's Gujarat unit president Gopal Italia, state general secretary Manoj Sorathia, Isudan Gadhvi, who was party's chief ministerial face during the elections, and all five newly-elected MLAs of the party from the state were present at the meeting, according to the party sources.
Pathak, a former IIT-Delhi faculty member and a Rajya Sabha MP of the party, is credited for the AAP's stupendous victory in Punjab assembly polls. He was the AAP's election in-charge for Gujarat. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other senior leaders of the party will be present at the day-long meeting, sources added.
The AAP's National Council is the party's highest policy-making body.
(With inputs from PTI)
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