Arvind Kejriwal to campaign for I.N.D.I.A Bloc candidates in Maharashtra
- In Reports
- 05:23 PM, Oct 26, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, is set to campaign for candidates from the I.N.D.I.A bloc in Maharashtra ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. This announcement was made by AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who stated that the party will not field its candidates in the elections scheduled for November 20. Instead, Kejriwal will focus his efforts on assembly seats where AAP has a volunteer base and where the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates are not embroiled in controversies.
Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, confirmed via social media platform X, “In the Maharashtra elections, the party's National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, will campaign for the MVA candidates. Aam Aadmi Party will not contest elections in Maharashtra.” The MVA coalition includes Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar's NCP-SP, and the Congress party.
The AAP and MVA constituents are part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), which was formed to counter the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the past, AAP has formed alliances with the Congress party in Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls. However, it independently contested the Punjab elections and also failed to gain traction in the recent Haryana assembly elections.
Sources within the party indicated that both Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP-SP approached AAP to enlist Kejriwal’s campaigning efforts in Maharashtra. The focus will be on urban assembly seats where Kejriwal's influence could translate into votes for the I.N.D.I.A bloc. “Arvind Kejriwal will campaign on the seats where his appeal would translate into votes for the INDIA Bloc, especially on urban seats,” added the sources.
Additionally, Kejriwal is likely to extend his campaign to Jharkhand, where he will support Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidates in their assembly elections, also scheduled for November 20. The assembly elections in Jharkhand will take place in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting set for November 23.
In a significant political turn, Kejriwal was recently released on bail from Tihar Jail after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March over the Delhi excise policy case. Following his release, he announced his resignation as Chief Minister, declaring he would not take on the role again until the public grants him a "certificate of honesty" by ensuring AAP's victory in the forthcoming assembly elections.
As the electoral landscape evolves, the Congress party, a key member of the MVA coalition, remains crucial for the alliance's success. The Congress has previously been part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand, emphasising its continued relevance in regional politics.
The Maharashtra assembly elections have garnered considerable attention, especially with the recent announcements from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar. Today, the NCP announced the names of 22 candidates for the upcoming elections, including notable figures such as Satish Chavan, who is contesting from the Gangapur seat. Chavan was suspended for six years from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction due to alleged anti-party activities.
In addition to Chavan, the NCP has listed candidates for various constituencies, including Erandol (Satish Anna Patil), Shahapur (Pandurang Barora), Paranda (Rahul Mote), Beed (Sandeep Kshirsagar), Arvi (Mayura Kale), Baghlan (Deepika Chavan), Yewla (Manikrao Shinde), Sinner (Uday Sangle), Dindori (Sunita Charoskar), Nashik (Early Ganesha Geeta), Ulhasnagar (Omi Kalani), Junnar (Satysheel Sherkar), Pimpri (Sulakshana Sheelwant), Khadakwasla (Sachin Dodke), Parvati (Ashwinitai Kadam), Akole (Amit Bhangre), Ahilya Nagar City (Abhishek Kalamkar), Malshiras (Uttamrao Jankar), Phaltan (Deepak Chavan), Chandigarh (Nandinitai Bhabulkar Kupekar), and Ichalkaranji (Madan Karande).
The impending elections will not only shape the political future of Maharashtra but also influence the strategies of alliances like I.N.D.I.A as they aim to establish a united front against the ruling BJP at both state and national levels. As candidates finalize their positions and alliances strengthen, the upcoming assembly polls promise to be a significant chapter in Indian politics.
Comments