Delhi by-elections: Dearth of good candidates puts AAP in a fix

NEW DELHI: For a political party adamant on proving its popularity in the Capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) doesn’t seem too thrilled by the announcement of bye-elections in the state. The news, in fact, has left many members and leaders concerned as AAP doesn’t have strong candidates within the party to breach the saffron bastion of Tughlakabad, Mehrauli and Krishna Nagar seats, which fell vacant after BJP legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha this year.

According to two leaders who spoke to ET on the condition of anonymity, at least two of the three AAP candidates, who contested from the three seats last year, will not get party ticket again. At the moment, there are no strong contenders within AAP to replace them which might force the party to extend its search outside and eventually field a political novice or a member of another party.

"Ishrat Ali Ansari, who fought and lost his election against BJP’s Dr. Harsh Vardhan from Krishna Nagar, is not interested in contesting again. Narendra Sejwal, who gave a tough fight to BJP’s Pravesh Verma but lost the Mehrauli seat by just 4,564 votes, has been suspended by the party on grounds of indiscipline. Currently, there are no strong local contenders (belonging to the two constituencies) from AAP who could make good poll candidates," said a senior party leader explaining why many are worried about the approaching bye-elections. Party spokesperson Nagender Sharma confirmed to ET that Sejwal had indeed been suspended from the party.

"This leaves us with little option but to field an outsider, which might send out the wrong message to voters about our ability to cultivate leaders within the party," added the above-mentioned leader. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced by-polls to three assembly seats in Delhi last week.

Voters will elect their representatives to Mehrauli, Krishna Nagar and Tughlaqabad — previously occupied by Pravesh Verma, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Ramesh Bhiduri — on Novemrber 25. Results will be announced on December 23. After the announcement, the state unit of BJP reportedly went into a huddle on Saturday itself.

AAP, however, will only decide its course of action after the apex court hears its PIL on dissolution of Delhi assembly on Tuesday. Party leader Sanjay Singh told ET that candidates will be announced within a week of Tuesday’s hearing.