‘Can’t Guarantee Win In Single Seat’: AAP’s Maharashtra Unit Takes U-Turn, Decides Not To Contest Lok Sabha Polls

Following the announcement by the party around two months ago that it would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has withdrawn from the electoral race in the state, reports The Indian Express.

Initially, the party had planned to contest the elections from as many as 15 constituencies, but later reduced that to a much smaller number.

“Later, it was considering to contest on five seats, one of them being Mumbai North East from where AAP state convener Brigadier Sudhir Sawant was keen to contest. While the party’s central leadership gave Sawant permission to contest the polls, he has declined claiming that it is too late now,” stated a party leader.

The leader explained that Sawant had reportedly made a delay in sending the list of candidates to Delhi. “He did not any give reason for the delay (in sending the list). Besides, he also told the central leadership that he cannot guarantee victory on a single seat, including his own. So, the decision was taken not to contest the polls,” he said.

Another party leader revealed more details about the delay. He remarked that belatedly sending the list to Delhi may have resulted in some of the candidates on the list becoming candidates of the Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi party.