In a statement released on Saturday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) reaffirmed its intention to run for all thirteen seats in Punjab in the Lok Sabha election of 2024. The party also dismissed the notion of forming an alliance with its partners in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance throughout the state.
Additionally, the party has the intention of running unopposed in Chandigarh, which only has one member in the legislature. It is expected that the AAP will name their candidates for each of the fourteen seats in the Lok Sabha within the next two weeks.
When it comes to the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have made it abundantly clear that the party will run independently in the state of Punjab as well as in Chandigarh, which serves as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Interestingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party was the opponent in the recent mayoral elections for the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, which were jointly fought by the Congress and the AAP. Following the defeat of their combined candidacy by the BJP, they were confronted with a setback.
During his speech to a crowd in Khanna, Punjab, Mr. Kejriwal stated that Lok Sabha elections are drawing near. He stated that there are thirteen Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, in addition to one seat in Chandigarh. He also stated that the AAP will declare its candidates for all fourteen of these seats within the next ten to fifteen days. He stated, “I urge all of you that the same way you blessed us two years ago (2022 Assembly election), make us win all of these 14 seats by voting for the party.” He was referring to the election campaign that took place in 2022.
Mr. Kejriwal, who was speaking after the launch of the ‘Ghar Ghar Muft Ration’ scheme, which aimed to provide free delivery of ration to the people at their doorsteps, took a dig at opposition parties by claiming that the ration that was distributed through the Public Distribution System had never reached the beneficiaries for the past seventy-five years. According to him, neither the Shiromani Akali Dal nor the Congress have taken a single step toward improving the well-being of the people in the past seventy-five years. He also stated that the political parties and their leaders had stolen the ration that was intended for the average person.
Specifically, he stated that beginning today, the theft of rations in Punjab will come to an end, and that beginning today, the beneficiaries will receive the full benefit of the system, which will also be delivered to their doorsteps. Despite the fact that the AAP government in Delhi had intended to implement this scheme in the state, he stated that the Union government had effectively prevented the move from taking place.
Within the context of his message, Mr. Mann stated that ever since he took over as governor of the state government, each and every pound has been allocated to the advancement of the state and the welfare of its citizens. In response to Shiromani Akali Dal’s “Punjab Bachao Yatra,” also known as the “save Punjab march,” Mr. Mann expressed his opinion that the true name of this gimmick march organized by Akali Dal is “Parivar Bachao Yatra,” which translates to “save dynasty march.” In addition to emotionally wounding the psyche of Punjabis and providing patronage to numerous mafias in the state, he stated that Akalis have ruthlessly plundering the state.
In addition, he launched an attack against the government at the center, which is run by the BJP, and accused it of taking a hostile stance toward all of the states that are not ruled by the BJP.
According to Mr. Mann, the AAP will capture all thirteen seats in the Punjab and one seat in Chandigarh.
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that a number of Congress leaders in Punjab have also voiced their disapproval of the alliance with the AAP. These individuals have been making it clear to the “high command” of the party that they do not want to proceed with the collaboration.