AAP replaces candidates in Mehrauli, Mundka; protests erupt

New Delhi, Jan 21: The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday replaced its Mehrauli and Mundka candidates for the Delhi Assembly polls following an inquiry by the party's "internal Lokpal", triggering protests outside Arvind Kejriwal's Kaushambi residence.

Miffed supporters of the Mehrauli candidate, Govardhan Singh, and Rajinder Dabas, the Mundka candidate, shouted slogans against the party. While Naresh Yadav has been named the party's Mehrauli candidate, Sukhbir Dalal has been fielded from Mundka.

"Following an inquiry by the party's internal Lokpal, the party has decided to replace its Mehrauli and Mundka candidates," a party spokesperson said.

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia accused Govardhan's family members of transporting people in buses to the Prime Minister's rally held at Ramlila Maidan recently. "The Mehrauli candidate Govardhan's family members had transported people in buses to the Prime Minister's Ramilia Maidan rally. That is not proper," he said.

Mehrauli candidate: It was Kejriwal who forced me to contest the election

Denying the allegations, Govardhan said the AAP's decision to drop him is an "affront" to the Jat community of Delhi. He also said that he was forced by Kejriwal to contest the elections.

"I had been campaigning for the last 15 days. But initially I did not want to contest. It was Kejriwal who forced me to contest saying I will be the face of the party in around 350 Jat villages in and around Delhi. This is an affront to the Jat community. This is a conspiracy," he said.

Last month AAP had replaced its Wazirpur candidate Suresh Bhardwaj by local leader Rajesh Gupta.

PTI