A day after Delhi delivered its verdict and handed over the reins of the Capital to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asserted that expansion beyond Delhi was on the cards.
Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and senior leaders Manish Sisodia, Sandeep Pathak, Sanjay Singh Sunday met the 22 MLAs who secured a victory.
After the meeting, Sisodia said that during the discussion, Kejriwal underlined the importance of AAP candidates continuing to make their presence felt on the ground among people.
“Even though BJP candidates have won, AAP’s candidates must stay connected with the people, address their concerns, and ensure that public service remains a priority… Their experience will also play a crucial role in the party’s expansion across the country, with responsibilities extending beyond Delhi,” he said.
Attributing the loss to a hostile “electoral environment”, Sisodia said, “Despite an electoral environment where government machinery, money, and liquor were openly misused, and election rules were blatantly violated, these candidates remained steadfast and fought courageously.”
Kejriwal, according to a statement from AAP, told the MLAs to work for the people and those who lost to stay connected with the people, address their concerns, and continue public service.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, outgoing Chief Minister and Kalkaji MLA Atishi said the party will play the role of a constructive Opposition and ensure that the BJP delivers on its promises. “The AAP will play the role of a constructive Opposition and ensure that the BJP pays Rs 2,500 per month to women by March 8 as was promised by it, provides 300 units of free electricity, and continues other facilities for the people,” she said.
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In his speech in the run-up to the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised that the amount would reach women by March 8. In its manifesto, the party had promised that up to 300 units of electricity could be provided to people free of cost under the Centre’s solar power scheme, where people can install solar panels on rooftops and sell unutilised power to the grid.
The AAP now has two big decisions ahead of it – choosing a leader of the Opposition and reviewing the responsibilities leaders have been given in the state unit. Among the leaders that have won, Gopal Rai is the senior-most and a founding member of the party. He is the convenor of the state unit. His name, sources said, is being considered for the leader of the opposition. Atishi is also a candidate.
The party, sources said, was also considering the option of appointing a Dalit leader as the LoP. Eight out of 22 seats that AAP won came from reserved constituencies.
Another leader said that senior leaders who lost this election, such as Sisodia, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Satyendar Jain, and Somnath Bharti will also be asked to shoulder bigger responsibilities in the party.
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Atishi, meanwhile, handed over her resignation to Lt Governor V K Saxena on Sunday.
The BJP’s Delhi unit president Virendra Sachdeva sought an appointment from Saxena “at an early date”.