AAP decides not to contest civic election in Punjab

JALANDHAR: Even as exit polls have predicted victory for Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi assembly election its leadership has decided not to contest the civic elections in the Punjab for which nomination process has already started.
A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of Punjab leaders led by state convenor Sucha Singh Chhottepur with Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday evening at latter's residence in Delhi.
Though party accused Punjab government for timing the election to coincide with Delhi election, its leaders were wary that with little time left they would not able to choose right candidates. Sources said that party units from various districts had conveyed that they were not feeling fully prepared to contest the election.
"Since there is hardly any time to select candidates and as per policy AAP need to field candidates with clean and honest record, AAP has decided not to contest the elections to local bodies. AAP will contest the next Assembly Elections in Punjab and will give the people of Punjab a fair, honest and corruption free governance which is much needed to free Punjab from Drug menace, corruption and bring about much needed development of infrastructure, public amenities, Education and Employment of Youth," said Chhottepur in a statement issued on Sunday evening after the meeting.
"Punjab Government has made a mockery of the democratic setup at the local body level, first by delaying the Local Bodies Elections by one year even when there is no provision in the constitution to extend the term of Local bodies or hold local bodies under suspended animation. Announcing elections to the local bodies immediately after Delhi Legislative assembly elections is also not correct as Punjab Government and Punjab State Election Commission knew that the workers and leaders of Aam Aadmi Party from Punjab are busy with the Delhi Elections," he said.
Party's National Council member Himanshu Pathak reasoned that they were not ready to jump in the fray without proper homework. "Our leaders and volunteers were busy in Delhi election and we don't want to go ahead with names of the candidates without thorough screening about their credentials for which little time is left," he added
Notably even as party was yet to take a decision some over enthusiasts had started campaigning while claiming that they were the party candidates. "Our primary concern is to not cater to the ambitions of some for whom it could be an opportunity to ride on party's rising graph in Delhi but to field honest and upright candidates," Pathak quipped.