Congress not in picture in Gujarat: Arvind Kejriwal
The Hindu
In Gujarat’s polity, AAP is seeking to emerge as the clear alternative to BJP, which has been in power since 1998.
Delhi Chief Minister and national convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asked AAP workers and party cadres in Gujarat to ensure that people do not waste their votes on the Congress in the upcoming Assembly polls as the party was not anywhere in the picture as a significant electoral contender.
Mr. Kejriwal had arrived in Gujarat on a two-day visit to campaign for the Assembly polls to be held later this year. As many as 6,989 newly appointed office-bearers from all districts took oath on Sunday in Ahmedabad in the presence of Kejriwal and other party leaders.
On Monday, he will address a Town Hall event in Ahmedabad, where he would talk about Delhi model of governance and development. In Gujarat’s polity, AAP is seeking to emerge as the clear alternative to BJP, which has been in power since 1998.
“There are people who don’t want BJP rule in the State and they also don’t like voting for Congress. We have to get their votes as we are the only alternative to BJP in the State”Arvind KejriwalNational Convenor, Aam Aadmi Party
According to him, the AAP can form the next government in Gujarat if the party bags the votes of those voters, who are angry with the ruling BJP but do not wish to vote for the opposition Congress that failed to dislodge the BJP in the last 25 years. “There are people who don’t want BJP rule in the State and they also don’t like voting for Congress. We have to get their votes as we are the only alternative to BJP in the State,” he told the party leaders.
“We are taking this pledge to serve the country and bring the rule that was dreamt of by Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
He also slammed both BJP and Congress of playing a “fixed match” in Gujarat where one party rules and another remain in opposition on paper. “BJP buys Congress MLAs and leaders by paying money but it cannot buy our leaders and workers as we are honest and patriotic people working for the service of the country.”