New Delhi: After registering a thumping victory in the recently concluded Punjab Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has now set sights on the neighbouring state Himachal Pradesh.
With Punjab in its kitty, where the party secured 92 seats out of 117, AAP announced to contest all the 68 seats in Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls slated later this year. In a bid to test the political waters, the party has also decided to contest the civic body elections in Shimla next month.
Making the announcement official, Delhi Health Minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain, as quoted by news agency ANI, said, “After Punjab now it's Himachal Pradesh's turn. We will contest elections on all 68 seats in Himachal Pradesh in upcoming Assembly elections.”
Claiming that some BJP and Congress leaders from the hill state are in touch with his party, Jain, as quoted by News18, said, “There are good people in every party and they are all welcome to join us…Why take tax if you cannot provide basic infrastructure like water and power free to people? Is the tax for netas or welfare of common man.”
In order to mark the party’s victory in Punjab, Jain held a roadshow in Shimla on Saturday, where he stated that AAP will for the government in the hill state after the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections and that the health and education system are in shambles here.
AAP in-charge of Himachal Pradesh, Ratnesh Gupta, while speaking to News18, said, “The people of Himachal Pradesh, too, are restless for change and we are going to be that change for the state.”