The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has unveiled its first list of 11 candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, expected to take place in early 2025. Notably, six of the candidates are leaders who recently switched allegiances from the BJP and Congress to join the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.

Candidates and Constituencies

AAP has announced candidates for key constituencies, including:

• Chhatarpur: Brahm Singh Tanwar
• Kiradi: Anil Jha
• Vishwas Nagar: Deepak Singla
• Rohtash Nagar: Sarita Singh
• Laxmi Nagar: BB Tyagi
• Badarpur: Ram Singh Netaji
• Seelampur: Chaudhary Zubair Ahmad
• Seemapuri: Veer Singh Dhingan
• Ghonda: Gaurav Sharma
• Karawal Nagar: Manoj Tyagi
• Matiala: Sumesh Shokeen

The list includes prominent defectors, such as Brahm Singh Tanwar, Anil Jha, and BB Tyagi from the BJP, and Chaudhary Zubair Ahmad, Veer Singh Dhingan, and Sumesh Shokeen from the Congress.

Strategic Moves

AAP's decision to field turncoats underscores its intent to capitalize on new alliances while addressing anti-incumbency sentiments. The party has dropped five sitting MLAs, including Gulab Singh Yadav (Matiala), Rituraj Jha (Kiradi), and Abdul Rehman (Seelampur), signaling potential further changes in the coming days.

Former Chhatarpur AAP MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar, who recently joined the BJP, was disqualified as an MLA.

Party Leadership Meeting

The candidates' list was finalized during a meeting of AAP's Political Affairs Committee (PAC), held at the residence of party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Senior leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Gopal Rai, were present during the discussions.

Election Context

The Delhi Assembly elections are anticipated in early 2025, with official dates yet to be announced by the Election Commission. This time, AAP faces the challenge of maintaining its stronghold while countering anti-incumbency factors. Of the 11 seats declared in the first list, six are currently held by the BJP. The party has allotted candidates three months to prepare for the electoral battle ahead.

With a mix of new faces and seasoned turncoats, AAP aims to consolidate its position as the dominant force in Delhi politics as the city gears up for another high-stakes election.