NEW DELHI: Newly-elected MLAs of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) met party supremo Arvind Kejriwal at his house on Sunday, a day after the party faced drubbing in the Delhi assembly election, winning only 22 out of the total 70 seats it contested.
After the meeting, Atishi, who won from Kalkaji, said that Kejriwal directed the MLAs to focus on serving their constituencies and hold rival BJP accountable for their poll promises.
“Today, Arvind Kejriwal ji held a meeting with the newly elected 22 MLAs and directed them to focus on serving their constituencies. He emphasised the responsibility to fulfill the people’s trust and solve their problems. He also spoke about holding the BJP accountable for their promises, like providing Rs 2,500 to women in Delhi by March 8, continuing free electricity, maintaining quality government schools, and free treatment in Mohalla Clinics and government hospitals. The AAP will ensure the BJP fulfills these commitments and continues the work done over the past 10 years,” Atishi told news agency PTI.
Acknowledging the Delhi mandate, Atishi said the election was fought with “hooliganism” that had never happened in the history fo Delhi.
“Right now analysis is going on as to why AAP lost, but this is the mandate of the people of Delhi, we respect the mandate. This election was conducted with so much hooliganism, such an election would have never happened in the history of Delhi,” Atishi said.
She said the AAP would “play the role of constructive opposition”.
“Where money is being distributed openly, liquor is being distributed openly, police are getting it distributed, and whoever is complaining about this is being put in jail…But we accept the mandate of the people of Delhi and will play the role of a constructive opposition,” the ex-CM said.
AAP leader Sanjeev Jha said that his party discussed the future strategy in the meeting with Kejriwal.
“All of our (party) leaders met party chief Arvind Kejriwal today and discussed our strategy for the future. BJP has promised to provide Rs 2,500 to every woman. We will ensure that this decision gets nod in their first cabinet meeting,” Jha said.
Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP suffered a big defeat, with the former Delhi CM and AAP convenor losing his seat to BJP’s Parvesh Verma. The BJP won 48 seats and AAP 22 in the 70 constituency Delhi assembly election.