The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday said that it intends to contest all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi during the upcoming 2024 general elections. The party's general secretary (organisation) and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak also said that the success of the United Opposition platform will depend on the "Congress's attitude". AAP also plans to launch a campaign to inform the public about the "detrimental impact of the Centre's ordinance regarding control of administrative services in Delhi".
Sandeep Pathak emphasized the importance of opposition parties uniting against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and highlighted the "attitude" of the Congress in determining the success of such a coalition.
The Centre's May 19 ordinance made way for a three-member authoritative body for the transfer and posting of Group-A administrative officers in Delhi. The Centre issued the ordinance despite a Supreme Court handing over the control over services, excluding police, public order, and land, to the elected government in Delhi. While the AAP has gained support from various non-BJP parties on this matter, the Congress is yet to condemn the ordinance.
Pathak confirmed that the AAP is preparing to contest all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi for the upcoming 2024 general elections. The party's campaign will primarily focus on educating people about how the Centre's "black ordinance" on administrative services control in Delhi works against their interests.
"We will inform the people that the black ordinance is not against Kejriwal, but against the people. Other issues include the BJP's attempts to suppress opposition parties and the performance of the Modi government during its nine years in power. If anyone can name four achievements of the Modi government, I will congratulate them," Pathak stated.
Pathak further accused the Modi government of destroying central agencies, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
He further emphasized the need for opposition parties to come together to defeat the BJP, but acknowledged that this depends on the Congress party's willingness to cooperate. "If the Congress is open-hearted and willing to include everyone, anything is possible. However, if they maintain an arrogant attitude, it will be challenging," Pathak said.
On June 23, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal attended a meeting of opposition leaders in Patna. However, the AAP later claimed that the Congress had declined to publicly denounce the ordinance, making it "very difficult" for the AAP to form any alliance with the Congress.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has stated that a decision on opposing the Centre's ordinance will be made before the Parliament session. Pathak mentioned that the AAP will decide soon whether to attend the upcoming meeting of opposition parties scheduled to take place in Shimla in July.