New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is planning to expand its footprints beyond its home turf and is looking to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh. Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is looking to register its presence in the biggest state of the country by contesting the Assembly and rural body elections.
In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, election supervisor Delhi Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said that his party has begun preparations for the upcoming Panchayat elections and this local polls will help AAP in strengthening its base for the assembly elections in 2022. Gautam, who is the Delhi Minister for Water, Tourist, Culture, Arts & Languages and Gurudwara Elections, has been made AAP’s its panchayat polls in-charge in the state.
The leader said that the people of Uttar Pradesh has given a very good response after the party announced its contention to contest the assembly and panchayat polls
With AAP registering its victory in Maharashtra municipal (105 seats) and Jammu and Kashmir's District Development Council (DDC) elections, the party is expecting to put up a good show in the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat elections.
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Gautam hit out at the Yogi Adityanath government over the increasing rate in crime and poor condition of farmers, especially those engaged in sugarcane cultivation. The AAP leader alleged that the politics in Uttar Pradesh is influenced by religion and casteism.
Responding to the fund collection drive for Ram Mandir, Rajendra Pal Gautam said, "BJP must disclose all the total amount collected in a fund collection drive for Ram Mandir. The audience has now understood that the BJP government is indulged in caste politics."
The leader also raised questions on provisions of free electricity, education and poor law and order situation, adding that for contesting panchayat elections like-minded political parties must come together.
