AAP contemplates replacement of its West Delhi Lok Sabha seat incharge: party leader

The Aam Aadmi Party is contemplating to replace Guggan Singh, the incharge of North West Delhi Parliamentary seat, because of his "limited appeal", a senior party leader said Thursday.

The party leader on condition of anonymity said this was felt in a recent party programme that could not draw crowd despite party head and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was slated to appear in it.

"The event had managed to attract hardly a few dozen people and Kejriwal had avoided attending it," he said.

Singh, a former MLA of the BJP from Bawana, had joined the AAP just before bypolls in the constituency last year. The move was promoted by sitting AAP MLA from Bawana Ved Prakash, switching side to join the BJP.

While the party did not give Singh the ticket to contest the bypolls, he was assured that he will be considered for the Lok Sabha elections.

Following this, he was one of the first five Lok Sabha constituency incharge, a precursor to bag the party ticket.

AAP insiders said that announcement of Singh's name as the in charge of North West Lok Sabha seat was "resented within the party" on grounds of having "limited appeal" and being an "outsider" among dedicated leaders and workers.

Last week, party's West Delhi Lok Sabha in charge Rajpal Solanki had expressed his unwillingness to continue citing health issues. He had resigned from the post in a letter written to party leaders.

The North West Lok Sabha seat is currently held by BJP's Udit Raj who had defeated AAP's Rakhi Birla in 2014 elections. Birla later contested from Mongolpuri Assembly segment lying in North West Parliamentary constituency and later became deputy chairman in the Delhi Assembly.

Some party leaders are also advocating sitting MLAs being given a chance to contest in the Lok Sabha elections, the leader added.