The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today ruled out contesting all 545 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, but will field candidates in the maximum number of seats and announced a nationwide fortnight campaign for enrolling new members from January 10.
After the party’s two-day national executive meeting chaired by Arvind Kejriwal, senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said the party will contest in at least 15 to 20 States and the effort will be to put good candidates in the maximum number of seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
When asked whether they would contest from all 545 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, Yadav said they are still not decided on how many seats the party will contest.
“Though it is sure we will contest elections from a large number of seats, at present we are not sure that we will contest from all 545 seats. We hope to contest from at least 15-20 States,” Yadav said.
“AAP will contest the Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. It is still too early to discuss about the party’s prime ministerial candidate,” he said.
Yadav also announced that AAP will contest from all the 90 constituencies in the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana as well as all the 10 Lok Sabha seats of the State.
“The assembly elections in Haryana are due in October, but there is speculation it might be held earlier or along with the Lok Sabha elections. The party has decided to contest all the Lok Sabha and assembly seats there,” he added.
Yadav said keeping in mind the unprecedented interest and excitement among people to join AAP, the party has decided to launch a national membership drive — Main Bhi Aam Aadmi — between January 10 and January 26.
“We have got immense support from people, whether it is the villages or urban areas. In view of this support, during this campaign we will invite people to join the party and encourage them to take out time for nation-building,” he said.
The AAP leader said there was no membership fee for the nationwide campaign and the party has discontinued its initiative to take Rs 10 as token money for membership.