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AAP likely to contest two dozen seats in Uttar Pradesh
“Since the SP has already signed a pact with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), AAP is likely to announce candidates by the end of this week,” a senior party leader said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday met Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav.
Though both the leaders termed the meeting as a courtesy call, AAP leaders said the party was likely to contest over two dozen seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Both the leaders also tweeted pictures of their meeting.
“Meeting with Akhilesh was a courtesy call. He is already in alliance. We will definitely contest election and the plan will be announced by the end of this week,” Singh said, adding that they discussed the current political scenario.
The meeting also took local AAP leaders, who had been waiting for AAP to announce its poll plans, by surprise.
“Since the SP has already signed a pact with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), AAP is likely to announce candidates by the end of this week,” a senior party leader said.
Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who had contested against Narendra Modi from Varanasi in 2014 Lok Sabha election, will not be in the fray this time.
AAP leaders had been saying it would contest a few seats in the state.
The party had also been taking the BJP head on, on the issues of Hindutva, farm distress and unemployment. The party also carried out a march from Ayodhya to Varanasi against the alleged demolition of old temples for Kashi Vishvanath Corridor.
“So far, the AAP has been claiming the support of Apna Dal offshoot (Krishna Patel faction) in the state. The party is also in touch with other smaller outfits,” said a local leader.
