The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has indicated it might contest a few seats in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled for next month. The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, is a member of the Opposition coalistion, INDIA.
In Maharashtra, three key parties from the INDIA coalition — Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) — are contesting the elections as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) against the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Another INDIA partner Samajwadi Party is also contesting the Maharashtra elections, but it is yet to tie up with the MVA.
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During a press briefing held on Friday in Kudal, located in Maharashtra’s coastal Sindhudurg district, Amit Palekar, president of AAP’s Goa unit, said the party is focused on building its presence in the Konkan region. He said the party is particularly focused in the Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts, as well as Kolhapur in western Maharashtra.
Palekar noted that AAP has experienced significant growth in the Konkan belt, where locals are seeking alternatives to the influence of BJP's Union Minister Narayan Rane, whom he accused of pursuing "politics of vendetta", reported news agency PTI.
While reaffirming AAP’s commitment to the INDIA bloc for the November 20 Maharashtra elections, Palekar added that the party might consider contesting a few seats where it has a strong chance of winning if the political situation allows. “There is a lot of pressure from the local party workers in Kolhapur as well as Sindhudurg to field party candidates for the upcoming elections,” he was quoted as saying.
As the party's in-charge for Sindhudurg, Palekar stressed that the people of the Konkan region, known for their politeness, would not accept the "arrogant rhetoric" often associated with the Rane family. He stressed that what Maharashtra needs is clean and honest governance, which can only be delivered by sincere and dedicated leaders.
(With PTI inputs.)