New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal is set to make its electoral debut in the northeastern region by participating in the upcoming Mizoram assembly elections.
AAP's northeast in-charge, Rajesh Sharma, announced this strategic move during a press briefing in Delhi. The decision to expand the party's presence and contest elections in the northeastern states was reached following a meeting with AAP's national convener, Arvind Kejriwal.
As part of this expansion, a coordination committee and a northeast cell will be established to facilitate the organisational setup and election campaigns in the region. While the specifics regarding the number of contested seats and constituencies will be decided by the state committee, this information will be unveiled shortly.
Sharma emphasised that people in the northeastern states are grappling with a range of critical issues encompassing education, healthcare, inflation, and unemployment. They believe that AAP, based on its track record in Delhi and Punjab, has the potential to offer effective solutions to these challenges.
The northeastern region faces challenges such as widespread corruption, nepotism, and governance issues. Many chief ministers in these states have been criticised for favouring their family members and associates in government contracts. Moreover, public institutions, including schools and hospitals, exhibit subpar conditions, while inflation continues to rise. Addressing these matters is a matter of utmost importance.
He also noted that in certain northeastern states, such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur, where the BJP holds power, divisive politics have been actively promoted. Such politics involve sowing divisions among communities and exacerbating tensions, including conflicts like the Kuki-Meitei dispute.
These actions have caused distress among the people of the northeast, who typically do not support such political manoeuvres. As a result, AAP is committed to intensifying its organisational efforts throughout the northeastern states to provide an alternative.