Arvind Kejriwal to begin Karnataka campaign on Saturday

Delhi CM and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal will kickstart the campaign for the 2023 assembly elections on Saturday from Davangere in Karnataka.

Fighting its first election in the southern state, the party has set its eyes on 131 of 224 assembly seats which have not voted for the same political party in two consecutive polls. Though it will field candidates in all 224 constituencies, it has sniffed an electoral opportunity in these constituencies which are largely concentrated in north and central Karnataka.

AAP's state in charge Dilip Pandey told ET, "There are 131 assembly segments in Karnataka which haven't voted for the same political party in two consecutive elections. This clearly shows that political parties have not delivered on their promises. About 80% of these constituencies are concentrated in north and central Karnataka. AAP has a good presence in these areas."


Kejriwal will administer oath to the party's volunteers at a meeting in Davangere. Pandey said the public meeting will wrap up a long process of establishing AAP organisation in the state. AAP began by identifying 10 volunteers at the circle level and then 10 more at every block (every block has 5-10 circles).

"When I was assigned the state and went for the first time, we had a presence in 94 assembly constituencies and 24 districts (including a very good presence in 14 segments across eight districts). But now AAP is present in all 224 segments across districts," said Pandey.

AAP will go with poll promises of free power, water, health clinics, monthly stipend to women and jobs.