NEW DELHI: With the sweeping victory in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has changed its tag of a mere regional party. Reports had earlier suggested that after Punjab, AAP’s next target will be Gujarat. But in Gujarat, where the Modi effect is most rippling, there is no need for any other factor to bring the BJP to power. The grand welcome received by Narendra Modi, following the BJP’s assembly poll victory in four states, clearly proves it. However, the latest reports hint that after Punjab, the AAP’s next target is the neighbouring state of Haryana. In BJP-ruled Haryana, the AAP has decided to strengthen its presence by including former MLAs from other parties.

AAP’s landslide victory in Punjab has given new impetus to the party in Haryana as well. In Haryana, 15 former MLAs and numerous social activists from various parties had joined AAP, the previous day. Former BJP MLA Umesh Agarwal, ex-BJP Minister Balbir Singh Saini, former Congress Minister Bijendra Singh Billu, former MLA Ravinder Machhrouli, former BSP leader Javed Ahmad and ex-Congress leader Jagat Singh have taken membership in the AAP.

The AAP will come to power with a huge majority in the 2024 Haryana assembly polls, opined the party leaders. AAP is also contesting in the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls scheduled this year-end.