AAP not to contest polls in Thrikkakara; will contest in next general election and come to power, say leaders

KOCHI: The leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have announced that they will not contest the Thrikkakara by-election to be held on May 31. The party will not contest in the by polls in areas where they have no power. The party leaders said they would contest all the seats in the next general election and come to power. A decision on whom to vote will be decided later. AAP state leaders said Twenty 20 should decide whether to compete or not.

The state unit had informed Arvind Kejriwal, the party's national convener, that the national leadership may not achieve what they hope. In Thrikkakara, the party system is weak and will only get a maximum of 20,000 votes, which will adversely affect the growth of the party. The party prepared a list of 13 candidates for Thrikkakara. At the end of the meeting convened, a decision was taken that the party will not be able to influence much. The stand is that if Aam Aadmi Party contests, Twenty20 will support. The Twenty 20 had got 13,000 votes in Thrikkakara in the last election. However, the leaders said the party is unlikely to contest in the by-elections.