AAP central leadership to chalk out Punjab plans soon

CHANDIGARH: With the unexpected sweep in Delhi elections gradually sinking in, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to chalk out a roadmap for Punjab polls with its central leadership expected to meet shortly on the issue. A senior leader from AAP Punjab said that the meeting would decide the party's strategy for Punjab, the only state where AAP managed to get four Lok Sabha seats.
Meanwhile, party's Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur reached Delhi on Thursday and said a series of activities in the state were likely to be kicked off with a mega rally. "I will catch up with the AAP leadership after the swearing-in and then work out the details in consultation with the local leaders," he said.
For the time being, uncertainty continues to hover over party's plans. AAP leader Jassi Jasraj said that it was still not certain if the party would contest Dhuri bypoll as there was no message from the central leadership. However, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann had recently declared that the impending bypoll in his parliamentary constituency would be contested by AAP.
"Punjab is one state where AAP stands the best chance after Delhi and focus will come on it only after the swearing-in is over, and the party leaders return from the capital. Having learnt its lessons, the party doesn't want to rush through the process of putting in proper organizational set up," said Jasraj.
Even though the party's Punjab leaders have agreed with the decision not to contest the municipal elections due to time constraint, there are some who believe that AAP should have at least tried its luck in the local bodies in the areas that had emerged as its strongholds during the last Lok Sabha elections.