“Will contest in all 13 seats,” announces Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party to go solo in Punjab

In another massive blow to the INDIA Alliance, Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that the Aam Aadmi Party will independently contest in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, denouncing the possibilities of allying with Congress. The AAP Chief said that the party will be announcing the names of the candidates over the next fortnight.    

"Two years back, you gave us blessings. You gave 92 out of 117 seats to us, you created history in Punjab. I have come to you with folded hands, asking for one more blessing. Lok Sabha elections will be held in two months. For Lok Sabha elections, Punjab has 13 seats and one from Chandigarh - a total of 14 seats. In the next 10-15 days, AAP will declare its candidates in all of these 14 seats. You have to make AAP sweep all these 14 seats with a majority,” said Arvind Kejriwal addressing a gathering in Khanna, Punjab.

Last month, Punjab CM Bhagwant Maan announced that AAP would contest in all 13 seats. AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal made the “solo” fight stance official on Saturday.

Previously, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declared that Trinamool Congress would fight solo in Bengal, shunning the idea of a united front with Congress in the state. “We were open to an alliance, offering them two seats, which they rejected. They wanted more seats, so I said rejected. Now, let them contest in all 42 seats alone. Since then, there has been no dialogue between us. We will fight alone and defeat the BJP in Bengal,” said the Trinamool Congress Supremo.