Former AAP MLAs Harish Khanna, Rajesh Garg unwilling to contest election

NEW DELHI: Two former Aam Aadmi Party MLAs have expressed unwillingness to contest forthcoming Delhi Assembly elections, alleging "lack of internal democracy" in the party.

However, AAP maintained that a final decision on whether the two would again contest or not hasn't been taken as yet.

Harish Khanna, former MLA of Timarpur, and another AAP MLA Rajesh Garg from Rohini do not want to contest the upcoming election in Delhi.

Khanna said, "I have conveyed to the party that I am not interested in fighting the polls. I have taken this decision due to lack of internal democracy in the party."

Khanna also alleged that the party would take decisions without listening to its MLAs.

"Whenever party called a meeting to discuss any issue, they didn't listen to elected members. I had some differences with some persons inside the party and was not happy with the way party was doing work. I had on July 6 also informed Kejriwal about my stand and on November 6, I have just reiterated that I would not contest forthcoming Assembly elections," Khanna said.

However, Khanna said that he would work for the party and will fight for internal democracy in AAP as the party should also listen to voices of elected members.

Another AAP MLA Rajesh Garg from Rohini has also indicated that he would not contest forthcoming elections.

Garg has communicated to the party about his unwillingness to contest the elections.

When contacted, Garg refused to comment on the matter. However, in the past he had expressed unhappiness about the party's working.

Reacting to decisions of two former MLAs, an AAP senior leader said, "We have got to know about their stand. Party will also seek report on the matter from district office bearers and final decision will then be taken."

AAP had made a stunning debut in the Assembly elections in December last year winning 28 seats in a 70-member house.