AAP strengthens base in state ahead of panchayat, urban local body polls

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday organised a ‘Zila Karyakarta Samvaad Milan’ at Una district headquarters to bolster its grassroots structure and deliberate on key public issues. The meeting was presided over by Rituraj Gobind Jha, former MLA from Delhi’s Kirari Assembly constituency, party spokesman, and in-charge for Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing media after the event, Jha said AAP was focusing on expanding its organisational base across Himachal in preparation for the upcoming Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections, while keeping its long-term goal fixed on the 2027 Assembly poll. According to him, district-level units in Mandi, Kullu, Chamba and Kangra are already active, and similar meetings are being rolled out in other districts.

Jha claimed that a party survey conducted recently revealed that nearly 80 per cent of respondents were disillusioned with successive BJP and Congress governments in the state. He alleged that people are tired of the “loot” perpetuated by both major parties and now view AAP as the natural alternative. “Those who believe in the ‘Kejriwal-vaadi vichardhara’ should come forward and strengthen the AAP movement in Himachal,” he appealed.

Drawing parallels with Punjab, Jha highlighted the Bhagwant Mann government’s performance, particularly its anti-drug drive, under which 2,500 FIRs have been lodged and around 4,000 arrests made. He pointed out that the premises of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia were raided, unearthing transactions worth Rs 750 crore linked to drug trade.

“Within the next 18 months, Punjab will witness a series of public welfare schemes in health, education and other sectors, including the rollout of a Rs 10 lakh health insurance scheme for residents,” he announced.

On national politics, Jha accused the BJP of rising to power through unethical practices, adding that the issue of ‘Vote Chori’ (vote theft) will be central to opposition campaigns. He noted that despite BJP’s tactics, AAP had trailed by just 2 per cent votes in the last Delhi Assembly poll, underlining the party’s growing strength.

Referring to the NCRB’s latest crime data, Jha also criticized the law and order situation in the national capital, stating that Delhi continues to top charts for heinous crimes, including rapes, exposing the BJP’s failure at the Centre.

Jha concluded by asserting that AAP would emerge as a credible, clean, and people-centric alternative in Himachal politics.