First list of AAP candidates for Delhi assembly poll likely

New Delhi, Nov 12: The first list of nearly 30 candidates of Aam Aadmi Party for proposed Delhi assembly elections is likely to be out tomorrow, party sources today said.

Among prominent names to figure in the list would be all serving ministers in Arvind Kejriwal government. They include Satyendra Jain, Rakhi Birla, Manish Sisoida, Somnath Bharti and Saurabh Jain. AAP legislator Bandana Kumari from Shalimar Bagh is also likely to figure in the list.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is expected to contest from New Delhi assembly seat from where he had defeated former chief minister Sheila Dixit by over 22,000 votes last year. "A list of around 25-30 candidates should out by tomorrow or latest by Friday," a party functionary said. Harish Khanna, former MLA of Timarpur, and Rajesh Garg who had won from Rohini seat in assembly polls in December last year, have indicated their unwillingness to fight the polls.

So, the party has decided not to give tickets to Khanna and Garg as well. The Rohini MLA had also lashed out at party for "encouraging corrupt people". AAP has started preparations for the polls which is likely to take place in February like it had done for the last assembly polls. It declared its candidates early and also started campaign well in advance as compared to its rivals.

List to be released by Friday; AAP legislator Bandana Kumar to be in the list

Sources said the party has taken the decision not to give tickets to six former legislators following "ground reports" on their performance. "There are two process that are happening now. One is for the seats won by AAP and second in which the party did not win. There have been candidates who have lost in the assembly elections and some of them carried on with the party work. They might be renominated by the party," a party functionary added.

AAP had made a dream debut in Assembly polls in December last year winning 28 seats in the 70-member assembly. Later, it had formed government in Delhi with the support of Congress. The government led by Kejriwal resigned on February 14 after the party's pet project, the Janlokpal Bill, could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress. The Delhi Assembly was dissolved on November 4 by President Pranab Mukherjee following recommendation by the Union Cabinet.

PTI