By Mewati Sitaram
In a surprising turn of events, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its intention to contest all 36 seats in Mumbai for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls. This bold move, revealed by AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon during a recent press conference, signals the party’s ambition to expand its influence beyond its strongholds in Delhi and Punjab.
While affirming AAP’s commitment to the opposition INDI alliance at the national level, Menon made it clear that the party would chart its own course in Maharashtra. This decision comes as AAP seeks to replicate its “Delhi model” of development, which has garnered attention for providing free quality education, healthcare, water, and electricity without incurring debt or succumbing to corruption.
Menon didn’t mince words when criticizing the current BJP-Shinde Sena led government, accusing them of “wholesale corruption” and lacking the political will for public welfare. She painted a grim picture of Maharashtra’s current state, citing issues such as unemployment, inflation, agrarian distress, and a decline in the state’s industrial prominence.
The AAP leader also raised concerns about the treatment of marginalized communities and the government’s handling of the Maratha reservation issue. She highlighted the absence of public representation in Maharashtra’s municipal corporations and decried the deteriorating infrastructure in Mumbai.
In a direct challenge to the BJP, Menon accused the party of attempting to undermine Mumbai’s status as India’s financial capital by relocating projects to Gujarat. She alleged that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis were prioritizing Gujarat’s interests over those of Maharashtra.
AAP’s working president, Ruben Mascarenhas, concluded the press conference by positioning the party not just as an alternative but as “the solution” for Maharashtra’s woes. This ambitious declaration sets the stage for an intriguing political battle in one of India’s most economically significant states.
As AAP prepares to test the waters in Maharashtra, all eyes will be on how the party’s message resonates with voters and whether it can translate its success in Delhi and Punjab to this new political frontier. The upcoming assembly polls promise to be a fascinating contest, with AAP hoping to shake up the established political order in Mumbai and beyond.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
