New Delhi: In a clear jolt to the INDIA bloc unity, Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) has said it is not part of any alliance and will contest the assembly elections on its own in states including Bihar, Assam and Gujarat.
Speaking to ET on alliances, AAP senior leader and national media coordinator Anurag Dhanda said, “AAP is not part of any alliance. We have our own strengths. We are building on that.” When asked about the status of the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, Dhanda said, “That (alliance with INDIA bloc parties) was for the Lok Sabha elections. We are not a part of any bloc now.” This is the first categoric statement from AAP since the 2024 parliamentary polls and its humiliating defeat in the Delhi assembly elections.
So far, INDIA bloc parties have been working closely on floor strategy in Parliament. Recently, former finance minister P Chidambaram had expressed concern over the future of the INDIA bloc and said he wasn’t sure if the bloc was still intact.
AAP is now rebuilding its organisation and gearing up to fight the assembly elections in several states. According to sources, the party has divided the states into two categories –– A and B –– with Category A states being big-ticket contests which would see the active involvement of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. These include Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi and Goa. Category B states will be where local leadership with steer the contest.
The party has decided to fight the forthcoming assembly elections in Bihar –– a state where INDIA bloc parties RJD and Congress fight in alliance. AAP’s Bihar incharge Ajesh Yadav told ET, “AAP will fight election in Bihar on its own. We are focusing on building the party organisation down to the booth level. At present, we are holding a seven-phase yatra through the state to connect with the masses. We have entered the third phase through Seemanchal region.” When asked about INDIA bloc in Bihar, Yadav said AAP will fight on all 243 assembly segments on its own.
AAP has acted as a spoiler in several assembly elections making a clear dent in the Congress votes. The party’s presence in the recent elections has benefitted the BJP. In the Haryana assembly poll last year, AAP polled more votes than the victory margin in 5 out of 11 seats where Kejriwal campaigned. In Delhi, Congress’ presence in 17 of the 70 seats hurt AAP.
The party is now fighting to remain politically relevant. After the loss in Delhi, the top leadership is focusing on Punjab, the only state it is in power. Kejriwal and other leaders including Manish Sisodia and Sandeep Pathak are crafting campaigns to connect party to the grassroots. The party has set its calendar for the next two years. Kejriwal will campaign extensively as AAP will fight the Assam assembly election next year. In 2027, it will fight the assembly elections in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Gujarat and municipal election in Delhi.
Speaking to ET on alliances, AAP senior leader and national media coordinator Anurag Dhanda said, “AAP is not part of any alliance. We have our own strengths. We are building on that.” When asked about the status of the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, Dhanda said, “That (alliance with INDIA bloc parties) was for the Lok Sabha elections. We are not a part of any bloc now.” This is the first categoric statement from AAP since the 2024 parliamentary polls and its humiliating defeat in the Delhi assembly elections.
So far, INDIA bloc parties have been working closely on floor strategy in Parliament. Recently, former finance minister P Chidambaram had expressed concern over the future of the INDIA bloc and said he wasn’t sure if the bloc was still intact.
AAP is now rebuilding its organisation and gearing up to fight the assembly elections in several states. According to sources, the party has divided the states into two categories –– A and B –– with Category A states being big-ticket contests which would see the active involvement of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. These include Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi and Goa. Category B states will be where local leadership with steer the contest.
The party has decided to fight the forthcoming assembly elections in Bihar –– a state where INDIA bloc parties RJD and Congress fight in alliance. AAP’s Bihar incharge Ajesh Yadav told ET, “AAP will fight election in Bihar on its own. We are focusing on building the party organisation down to the booth level. At present, we are holding a seven-phase yatra through the state to connect with the masses. We have entered the third phase through Seemanchal region.” When asked about INDIA bloc in Bihar, Yadav said AAP will fight on all 243 assembly segments on its own.
AAP has acted as a spoiler in several assembly elections making a clear dent in the Congress votes. The party’s presence in the recent elections has benefitted the BJP. In the Haryana assembly poll last year, AAP polled more votes than the victory margin in 5 out of 11 seats where Kejriwal campaigned. In Delhi, Congress’ presence in 17 of the 70 seats hurt AAP.
The party is now fighting to remain politically relevant. After the loss in Delhi, the top leadership is focusing on Punjab, the only state it is in power. Kejriwal and other leaders including Manish Sisodia and Sandeep Pathak are crafting campaigns to connect party to the grassroots. The party has set its calendar for the next two years. Kejriwal will campaign extensively as AAP will fight the Assam assembly election next year. In 2027, it will fight the assembly elections in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Gujarat and municipal election in Delhi.
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