Buoyed by a massive win in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has now shifted focus to Chhattisgarh and decided to contest the Assembly polls of 2023 with full strength.
Chhattisgarh in-charge of AAP and Delhi minister Gopal Rai arrived in Raipur on Sunday on a two-day visit. After opening the new state party office, he claimed that prominent leaders of different parties in the state are in contact with the AAP to shift sides. Rai exuded confidence that AAP can take up the electoral space in Chhattisgarh effectively as people are disappointed with both the BJP and the Congress.
Speaking to media persons, Rai said that the party will launch a statewide membership campaign from Monday. “Many leaders of different parties are in touch with us. Many will join, but it will be the common people who will bring the change and the AAP will be providing the alternative,” Rai said.
A 'Babalbo Chhattisgarh' (will change Chhattisgarh) rally will be flagged off by Rai on Monday from the Science College ground in Raipur. It will move around the capital taking the message of the AAP to people. Also an open toll free number will be issued on the occasion for people to take membership of the party, Rai said. The membership drive will commence across the state in next one month.
Logistics wise, Chhattisgarh looks like a perfect focus state for the AAP as there are only 90 Assembly seats to contest and apart from the Congress and the BJP, no other political party has any substantial presence. The Janta Congress Chhattisgarh, established by ex-chief minister late Ajit Jogi ahead of the 2018 polls, failed to make any major mark in the state. With the death of Jogi, it has further petered out.
Rai said at a press conference that the AAP came back to power in Delhi on the basis of its welfare work. The party has established a new model by doing extensive welfare work in the fields of power and water supply, education and health. It was on the basis of this model that the AAP could win a huge mandate in Punjab.
Likening the situation of Chhattisgarh to Punjab, Rai said that in Punjab, the Akali Dal formed government multiple times, but the disappointed people elected the Congress last time. However, the party failed to live up to the aspirations of the people and therefore they have laid their confidence in the AAP now. Similarly, in Chhattisgarh, the BJP had a government for 15 years and the disappointed people gave the Congress an opportunity in 2018. However, the current government has failed to deliver and has rather engaged in infighting as in Punjab.
The AAP had contested Chhattisgarh polls in 2018, but failed to open an account. However, since the Punjab victory, the party claims to have been receiving many calls from Chhattisgarh from those interested in joining the party to bring about change. “Last time we were a new party, but now people are ready for change and we are giving a message and together we can bring about huge positive changes in the state as in Delhi and Punjab,” Rai said.
On Sunday, some social and political activists joined the AAP in presence of Rai and Burari (Delhi) MLA of AAP, Sanjeev Jha.
