Will Contest All 7 Lok Sabha Seats In Delhi In 2024: Aam Aadmi Party

The AAP on Wednesday said it will contest all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2024 general elections and launch a campaign to tell people that the Centre's ordinance on control of administrative services in the capital is against them.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with AAP leaders from Delhi and Haryana, party general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak also stressed the need for opposition parties to unite against the BJP and said it depends on the Congress' "attitude".

The Centre promulgated the ordinance on May 19 to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in the capital, excluding police, public order, and land, to the elected government.

While the AAP has managed to garner the support of several non-BJP parties on the issue, the Congress has yet to denounce the ordinance.

Pathak said the AAP is preparing to contest all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2024 general elections.

He said the party's campaign will focus on telling people that the Centre's "black ordinance" on control of administrative services in Delhi is against them.

"We will tell people that the black ordinance is not anti-Kejriwal but anti-people. The other issues are the BJP's desire to end opposition parties and the work done by the Modi government during its nine years in office. If someone can talk about four things done by the Modi government, I will congratulate them," he said.

Pathak also accused the Modi government of "ruining" central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The AAP leader further said opposition parties should come together to overthrow the BJP. This, however, depends on Congress, he said.

"If the Congress is open-hearted and willing to take everyone along, anything is possible. But if it is arrogant, things will be difficult," Pathak elaborated.

On June 23, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal attended a meeting of opposition leaders in Patna. However, soon after, the AAP claimed the Congress had refused to publicly denounce the ordinance, and due to this, it would be "very difficult" for it to be part of any alliance with the party.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said a decision on whether to oppose the Centre's ordinance will be taken before the Parliament session.

Pathak said the AAP will take a call on attending the next meeting of opposition parties scheduled to be held in Shimla in July.