The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday withdrew support to its candidate from Rajouri Garden constituency after the party came to know that a dowry case has been pending against the candidate and his family members in Lucknow.
“The AAP announces the withdrawal of its support to its own official candidate, Pritpal Singh Saluja, from Rajouri Garden constituency in the Delhi Assembly elections. It has been brought to our notice that an FIR was registered against him and three of his family members in October, 2012, at Lucknow. It also appears that some other complaints of domestic violence had been made against him and his family members by his daughter-in-law,” said a party statement issued on Tuesday.
“None of the charges against Mr. Saluja have been proven in any court of law. He claims that he is innocent and will fight this charge-sheet in court. However, he did not bring these facts to the attention of the party while applying for candidature,” added the party statement.
“The Political Affairs Committee of the AAP has taken a serious view of the lapse and, thereby, it has decided to withdraw the party’s support to Mr. Saluja for the upcoming Delhi elections. The withdrawal of support at this stage would mean that though technically he would continue on the ballot as a candidate of the party but it would effectively mean that the party would leave the seat vacant,” it added.
