Patna: The INDIA bloc faced a significant blow as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced it will contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections on its own. The elections are set to take place in October-November this year.
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj stated on Wednesday that the party will go solo in the Bihar polls, planning to field candidates in all 243 assembly constituencies. He told reporters in Delhi that the party will not form any alliance and will contest every seat independently, TNIE reported.
This declaration comes shortly after AAP joint secretary Manoranjan Singh said the party had begun preparations for the elections. Singh also mentioned his intention to contest from the Taraiya assembly seat in Saran district.
Saurabh Bhardwaj indicated that many people from Bihar, now living in Delhi, have witnessed the development initiatives undertaken by the Aam Aadmi Party in the capital. He said that AAP aims to replicate similar developments in Bihar.
The party has already kicked off a mass outreach campaign led by Manoranjan Singh, titled “Bihar mein bhi Kejriwal,” to engage with voters and promote the Delhi model of governance. As part of its efforts to build grassroots support, the campaign focuses on mobilising workers and highlighting AAP’s achievements in Delhi.
Bhardwaj also noted that Rakesh Yadav, AAP’s Bihar in-charge, has launched a seven-phase yatra across the state. The purpose of the yatra is to inform people about the progress made in Delhi under AAP’s rule. According to Bhardwaj, the public response to these efforts has been highly encouraging.
Rakesh Yadav made it clear that the Aam Aadmi Party has no intention of forming a pre-poll alliance with the RJD-Congress in Bihar.
He emphasized that AAP has built its own organizational structure and enjoys a dedicated public base in the state. The state leadership has put forward a proposal for the party to contest the upcoming elections independently.
Yadav mentioned that preparations are underway across all 243 assembly constituencies, with plans to soon establish booth-level committees. He also noted that district committees have been instructed to gather support from all communities, cutting across caste and religious lines.
In the lead-up to its electoral debut in Bihar, AAP has introduced a new campaign slogan targeting the BJP. The slogan, which roughly translates to “those who displaced Biharis from Delhi, those Biharis will throw BJP out of Bihar,” reflects the party’s attempt to tap into local sentiments and broaden its appeal.