Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to field maximum number of candidates for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, many leaders of the new political outfit are of the view that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should contest the upcoming polls.
It is being learnt that many AAP leaders voiced their concern during the national executive meet Sunday over Kejriwal refusing to fight the General Elections. Reports said that some section of the party was of the view that the Delhi Chief Minister would attract the electorates as he is the most popular face of the party and projecting him as the prime ministerial candidate would help the party in garnering support in a big way.
Kejriwal yesterday had ruled out his contesting the General Elections. "I am not contesting the Lok Sabha elections, he told reporters.
However, many other party leaders want the AAP convenor to focus on Delhi, as good administration by AAP government in the national capital would help the party grow nationally.
If at all Kejriwal decides to contest the General Elections, he would certainly pose a big threat to Bharatiya Janata Party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who have dominated the leadership debate. The Delhi CM`s entry in the 2014 polls campaign, would certainly change the dynamics of the upcoming polls.
In a bid to cash in on its popularity after its Delhi success, the AAP will launch a national campaign to enrol new members from January 10, even as it ruled out contesting all 545 seats in the country.
At the end of the AAP`s two-day national executive meeting, senior party leader Yogendra Yadav said today that the party has decided to field maximum number of candidates in Lok Sabha, but ruled out contesting in all 545 constituencies.
Yadav said the party will contest the Lok Sabha elections under Arvind Kejriwal`s leadership.
"AAP will contest the Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. It is still to early to discuss about the party`s prime ministerial candidate," he said.
"Though it is sure that we will contest election from a large number of seats, at present we are not sure that we will contest from all 545 seats. We hope to contest from at least 15-20 states," Yadav said after the meeting that finalised the strategies for general elections.
Yadav said the first list of candidates will be announced by January 20 following a rigorous screening process and maintained that candidates with allegations of corruption and facing criminal charges will not be given party tickets.
