AAP not to contest Baroda byelection

Ravi S Singh

New Delhi, September 11

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not contest the upcoming byelection in Baroda. The decision follows a recent meeting of national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders.

The reason to drop the idea of contesting the bypoll was part of the strategy of not risking prestige of the party just for one constituency. The party, a fledgling outfit, was focusing on expanding its base.

“Contesting one Assembly seat at the present juncture will not serve the larger goal. The election will not be contested on principles and ideologies,” said a senior party leader.

Insiders said party leaders were wary that the contest in Baroda would finally boil down to the BJP-JJP combine and the Congress.

Prakash Bharti, INLD national vice-president, said MLA Abhay Chautala had toured the constituency. “The contest will eventually be between the Congress and INLD,” he said.