In a significant setback to the opposition INDIA coalition, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal declared on Saturday that his party would independently contest all 14 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and Chandigarh. Asserting that there would be no collaboration with the Congress in the state, Kejriwal stated that the party would unveil its candidates for all 14 seats within the next 10-15 days.
“Seeking your support once again, as we approach the Lok Sabha elections in the next two months. Punjab has 13 seats and one in Chandigarh, making it 14 in total. Within the next 10-15 days, Aam Aadmi Party will reveal candidates for all 14 seats. As you supported us two years ago, I urge you to bless AAP to secure victory in all 14 seats by voting for the ‘broom’,” Kejriwal appealed to the public for support in the upcoming polls.
During the launch of the Ghar Ghar Ration Scheme in Punjab’s Amloh, the AAP leader recalled the overwhelming support received from the people in the previous assembly elections, where the party secured 92 out of 117 seats, creating history in Punjab. Emphasizing the significance of the party’s election symbol, Kejriwal urged people to “sweep Punjab” vigorously to ensure AAP’s success in all 14 seats.
Kejriwal’s announcement follows Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s earlier declaration that AAP would contest independently in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, further weakening the INDIA coalition. This decision came shortly after Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee announced her party’s intention to contest all seats in West Bengal independently, without sharing any with alliance partners.
Earlier in January, Mann had affirmed that there would be no alliance with the Congress for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, confidently predicting AAP’s victory in 13 Punjab seats. Additionally, AAP had previously announced its decision to contest solo in Haryana for both assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
AAP’s decision coincides with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s recent departure from the Mahagathbandhan alliance to join forces with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), further reshaping the political landscape.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress secured eight seats, the Shiromani Akali Dal won in two, the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed two, and AAP clinched one seat.
