Arvind Kejriwal walks own path for Lok Sabha elections

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The political observers argue that the AAP is not getting support from the Congress against the action of the Enforcement Directorate against the party leaders.

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, January 8: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appears sending out mixed signals ahead of the Opposition block, the Indian National Developmental and Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), commencing the seat adjustment talks for the Lok Sabha elections. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal broke ranks from the Opposition block to announce the party candidate for the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat on Sunday.

In a politically significant move, Kejriwal launched a campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat on Sunday. The AAP appears building a solo campaign plank for the Lok Sabha elections on the theme of the party leaders being sent to jails.

Addressing a public meeting in Gujarat, Kejriwal announced the name of the AAP MLA Chaitar Vasawa for the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat. He said that Vasawa has been “sent to jail because he sought answers for funds meant for the wellbeing of the tribal community in Gujarat”. Launching a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat, Kejriwal alleged that “Basawa wad sent to jail on fake charges because he sought explanations for the funds for the development of the tribal community. The government sends lots of funds for the development of the tribal community. But they disappear. No one knows where the money goes.”

His decision to announce the Lok Sabha candidate in Gujarat where the Congress is the principal Opposition party has created intense speculations in the political corridors. Incidentally, the AAP is aiming Gujarat for the expansion of the party. The AAP had made electoral gains in the Gujarat Assembly election last year which had badly affected the Congress.

The political observers argue that the AAP is not getting support from the Congress against the action of the Enforcement Directorate against the party leaders. Kejriwal was last week served with the third summon by the ED in the alleged excise scam. Two former ministers of the Kejriwal government – Satyender Jain and Manish Sisodia — in Delhi are already in jail.

The AAP leaders in Delhi have begun holding public meetings to build a public opinion of sympathy for the party amid the ED action. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj in a public meeting on Sunday alleged that the party leaders are being jailed because the “BJP is convinced that it cannot defeat Kejriwal in Delhi.” He said that the BJP has tested defeats in Delhi in all elections since 2013.

By announcing the Lok Sabha candidate without consultation with the Opposition block, the AAP may be putting pressure on the Congress to cede space for the party in states such as Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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