Buoyed by its decisive victory in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party has decided to turn its focus on Uttar Pradesh as it outlined its plans on Sunday to recruit 25-lakh members in the politically-crucial State and contest the panchayat polls later this year.
AAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh said party workers would visit 1.07-lakh villages in the state during the next three months, and gather public opinion and information on issues that affect people.
“The entire feedback will be submitted to Kejriwal after three months,” Singh told reporters.
The Rajya Sabha member said the Arvind Kejriwal-led party planned to make 25-lakh members in the state and, within a month, 5,000 posters of the party would be put up in every assembly constituency.
The membership drive will be held from Monday till March 22 in over 12,000 wards in various cities across the state. “AAP will contest the panchayat elections (likely in October-November) in UP,” he announced.
However, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma dismissed the claims made by the AAP, saying the party had talked about expanding itself in the past as well.The renewed focus to diversify the AAP across the country comes nearly two weeks after the party, founded in 2012, registered a decisive win in the Delhi assembly elections for a third consecutive term.
After its win in Delhi five years ago, the AAP had made moves to expand, but did not find much base.
For Uttar Pradesh, the AAP spokesperson said, five ministers with origins in the state have been made Ministers in Delhi Government.
“They will play a key role in various campaigns by the party,” he added.
Hitting out at the Adtiyanath Government, Singh claimed that law and order had ceased to exist in Uttar Pradesh and the youth was disappointed with the BJP Government.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the Delhi Assembly election. “The statements made by Adityanath and the action on CAA protesters are a sign of an unsuccessful chief minister,” Singh said.