After a shocking defeat in the Rajouri Garden bypoll on Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) admitted that the people voted against it because they were “upset” with the party.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that people were upset with the party over its legislator quitting from this constituency to contest from Punjab. He said the party will pull up its socks in the upcoming civic polls and try to convince the people of Rajouri Garden to vote for it by showcasing the good work done by the Delhi Government.
The AAP has been campaigning with its Convenor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the forefront in a bid to sweep the polls scheduled for April 23.
The Rajouri Garden bypoll was held after AAP MlA Jarnail Singh quit to contest from lambi in Punjab against the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Jarnail came in third in the contest. The BJP-Akali Dal candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa trounced his nearest rival and Congress’ Meenakshi Chandela by over 14,500 votes. The AAP’s Harjeet Singh came in a distant third.
“There was anger among the people after Jarnail went to Punjab. We tried to convince them, but after the results we realise that the people were not convinced and remained upset. Whatever work was done by Jarnail we will carry it forward,” Sisodia said.
When asked about the possible impact of the Rajouri Garden bypoll on the civic elections, Sisodia said the BJP too lost several bypolls after its resounding victory in 2014 lok Sabha polls. “We will show it in the MCD polls. After winning 282 seats in lok Sabha, the BJP lost many bypolls. We will win the MCD polls by telling people about the work done by us and we will win it handsomely,” he said.