Senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have given their assent to the Goa leadership to contest assembly elections in the state in 2017.
“Right now, the only nod that has been given is for Goa. We are going all out for Punjab and we will also contest the municipal elections in Delhi. Apart from this, there are no plans to contest any other elections in 2017,” a party source said.
Teams comprising senior party members and experienced volunteers are already in Goa to assess the ground-level situation and mobilise local support. Senior party leader Ashutosh had also said during his March visit to the state that the party was keen to contest elections there.
“We will hold a rally in Goa in the last week of May and then take a final decision. We have got a very positive response and there is a very good chance that we will contest elections in 2017,” said party spokesperson Sanjay Singh.
Contesting elections in other states has long been a bone of contention in the party. While the central leadership is wary of venturing out before it is sure of the on-ground mobilisation, state-level leaders and some core party members have been pushing for elections in other states.
The party is already stretched thin in terms of finances but money is not the only problem. “The biggest factor in deciding whether elections can be contested in a state is work on the ground. For the other states, contact programmes have not shown the kind of results that would make us contest,” a party leader said.
{{/usCountry}}The party is already stretched thin in terms of finances but money is not the only problem. “The biggest factor in deciding whether elections can be contested in a state is work on the ground. For the other states, contact programmes have not shown the kind of results that would make us contest,” a party leader said.
{{/usCountry}}Read | AAP’s new focus: Supporters in UK, Canada gear up to pitch in