AAP to take on 'corrupt' politicians in poll bout

Keeping up its anti-corruption plank, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday announced that it would field candidates in constituencies where politicians having corrupt and criminal background were contesting.

“Our party has decided that it will give special attention to seats where criminal and corrupt candidates are contesting,” AAP leader Sanjay Singh told mediapersons after the party's national executive committee meeting.

Singh said the party would field candidates against 73 members of parliament (Mps), who are accused of committing heineous crimes.

The party also said it would contest at least 350 seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

“With the kind of response we have got right now, the party feels it can contest more than 350 seats,” Singh said.

The party is screening the candidates and said the initial list of candidates could be released by February 7 or 8.

In its NEC meeting, the party discussed its election strategy and issues. Singh said a draft on the issues was being formulated and would be presented to the party's national council on Friday.

After deliberations at the meet, the party will make the issues public.

However, curbing corruption and removing ministers with criminal background from Parliament would be the top agenda of the party, he said.

The national council comprises state teams and respective convenors.

The meeting was attended by leaders such as Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishwas, Prashant Bhushan and Shazia Ilmi. Party chief Arvind Kejriwal arrived late.