AAP to not contest LS polls in Maha, claim party functionaries

After month-long deliberations, the central leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided not to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

According to a senior party functionary in the state, the political affairs committee (PAC) on Monday decided to focus on those states where party is in sound position to defeat BJP.

The situation in Maharashtra, the PAC believes, is not favourable.

"A formal announcement will be made soon regarding the decision (of not contesting the election)," a party functionary added.

With this decision, the AAP is slated to fight Lok Sabha polls in only four states - Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Goa.

This decision has, however, disappointed several workers and volunteers who though the party would contest the general polls here.

"The central leadership apparently has no interest to expand its base in Maharashtra. This is why it did not contest the Mumbai civic polls either," a worker said.

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, AAP had fielded candidates in all 48 seats in the state but drew a blank.

Among those who lost were its high profile candidates such as Medha Patkar, Mayank Gandhi, Anjali Damania and Meera Sanyal.

While Sanyal has died, others like Medha Patkar, Gandhi and Damania have disassociated themselves from the party.