AAP to discuss Delhi LS poll strategy today

After declaration of results for the five State Assembly elections

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will discuss its strategy for Delhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections after results for the five State Assembly elections are announced on Tuesday, AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai said on Monday.

Speaking to journalist here, Mr. Rai said the party will hold a meeting at AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on Tuesday evening with all its MPs, MLAs, Ministers, councillors, office-bearers and candidates for Delhi.

“The strategy and format of the campaign going forward and the launch of the second phase of the ongoing campaign will be discussed,” Mr. Rai said.

When asked about a decision on the AAP’s candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Mr. Kejriwal said the party will decide that along with its plan for Punjab and Haryana.

So far the AAP has announced Lok Sabha in-charges for six of the seats — all apart from West Delhi. In October, the party launched a door-to-door campaign in Delhi to seek donations and votes for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kejriwal attended a meeting of Opposition party leaders called by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu here on Monday.

When asked whether the AAP will enter into an alliance with other parties, particularly its rival in Delhi, the Congress, Mr. Rai said the meeting on Monday was to discuss the “need to end the dictatorship of [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi” and that a decision on tie-ups will be at a “local level”.

According to sources in the AAP, there is a difference of opinion within the party on whether it should align with the Congress in Delhi, given that the two parties will have to compete in the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections.