Severe drubbing in the recent lok Sabha elections has forced the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to go on back foot as it has decided not to contest in the ensuing Assembly by-election in three constituencies.
The By-elections in the State are being held in the Assembly segments of Doiwala, Dharchula and Someshwar.
The State Coordinator of the AAP Harish Chandra Arya told The Pioneer that the National Executive of the party after reviewing the poor performance of party in the lok Sabha polls has decided not to field candidates in these elections.
He said that the party has decided to strengthen its base among the people of the state. Arya said that as per the directive of central leadership all existing units of the party in the state would be reconstituted. He said that the immediate issues before the party in the state are new membership drives and reviewing the performance of existing members and allotting responsibilities as per their abilities.
During the run up to General Elections the AAP undertook an aggressive campaign in the state and projected itself as a third alternative to the BJP and Congress before the people of the state. The tall claims of the party fell flat as the electorate of the state gave it a sound thrashing in the electoral fray. All the five AAP candidates in the state forfeited their security and they were not even among top three contestants in State.
The lone exception was Anoop Nautiyal the party candidate from Tehri parliamentary constituency who was able to secure third position though he too lost his security deposit.