As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gears up for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, party chief Arvind Kejriwal is set to meet party leaders today at 5 pm to discuss the poll strategy. The meeting will take place in the Pitampura area of Delhi, signalling a critical phase in the preparations for the elections expected to take place in early 2025.
AAP, which dominated the last assembly elections by winning 62 of the 70 seats, has decided to focus its resources and energy solely on Delhi this time. According to sources, the party is unlikely to contest in the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where the leadership believes fielding candidates may lead to confusion among voters and potentially split the anti-BJP vote.
This decision comes despite some internal push from the Maharashtra AAP unit, which favours contesting the elections for organisational growth. However, the top leadership of the party remains firm on prioritising Delhi over these two states. The goal is to strengthen the party’s position within the INDIA Bloc, rather than risk weakening opposition unity in other states.
This focus on Delhi’s electoral landscape comes at a time when the AAP has initiated its 'Jan Sampark Abhiyan' campaign to engage with voters across the national capital. Kejriwal launched the initiative on Wednesday at the party's headquarters, emphasising the importance of direct communication with Delhi's residents.
Under this campaign, Kejriwal has committed to personally addressing key questions from the public, particularly regarding his recent time in jail and other matters of public interest.
Through the campaign, AAP workers will distribute letters written by Kejriwal to every household in the city, with the objective of reaching all homes by October 29.
In his letters, Kejriwal aims to clear any misconceptions and provide explanations regarding various concerns the public may have. The effort to connect with voters at the grassroots level reflects AAP’s strategy of building trust and directly engaging with the electorate before the upcoming elections. This personalised approach has been one of AAP’s hallmarks in past elections and has played a significant role in its electoral victories.
The focus on Delhi’s elections comes in the wake of a recent reminder from Kejriwal to his party members about the dangers of overconfidence. Speaking to AAP municipal councillors earlier in October, Kejriwal highlighted lessons from the Haryana election results, where complacency had been a concern.
He emphasised that no seat in the upcoming elections should be underestimated, urging party workers to remain focused and work hard to retain AAP’s stronghold in Delhi.
Although AAP has been largely successful in Delhi, the party is aware of the challenge posed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has managed to secure a small but consistent number of seats in the national capital.
In the 2020 assembly elections, BJP won eight seats, and they remain a key contender in the 2025 elections. AAP’s strategy of consolidating its resources in Delhi rather than spreading itself thin by contesting elections in multiple states underscores its intent to ensure that it remains a dominant force in the national capital.
The decision not to contest the assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra could also be viewed as part of a larger political calculation within the opposition's INDIA Bloc.
By not diluting its efforts across multiple states, AAP seeks to strengthen its coordination with other opposition parties and prevent the splitting of votes in crucial battleground states. This move could contribute to a stronger anti-BJP front in states where opposition unity is essential.
As Delhi prepares for another political battle, AAP’s focus on voter engagement, grassroots campaigning, and maintaining its electoral base will be central to its success. Kejriwal’s leadership, coupled with the party’s track record of governance in Delhi, remains key to its prospects.
The upcoming months will determine whether AAP can replicate its previous success in the Delhi Assembly and how effectively it can counter the challenge posed by the BJP.
Follow us
