Pune: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided not to contest in the Maharashtra Assembly elections this year, as stated by party spokesperson Mukund Kirdat in a press release.
This decision comes as AAP prioritizes its role within the INDI alliance to support efforts to defeat the ruling BJP in Maharashtra.
Kirdat conveyed that although Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had offered AAP seats to contest in the elections, AAP’s primary focus is to unite with alliance partners to prevent the BJP’s return to power.
"In Maharashtra, this election is not about winning seats but about addressing a bigger goal—to defeat the oppressive, authoritarian BJP government," said Kirdat.
He warned of the risk of vote division among opposition parties, which could enable the BJP to retain power, as seen previously in Haryana.
Within AAP, there was considerable support among workers and leaders to participate in the Maharashtra elections. Several candidates had already begun preparations across constituencies, especially in major urban centers like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.
Political analysts had suggested that AAP’s potential to capture significant vote shares in these areas posed a concern for established political parties, with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) potentially facing setbacks in seats decided by narrow margins.
AAP has also established a strong organizational presence in Pune's constituencies and has seen growing support from rural regions in Maharashtra. Leaders from the INDI alliance, including Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, previously acknowledged the groundwork and efforts of AAP in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Kirdat also highlighted that AAP’s national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, is committed to supporting the INDI alliance’s success in Maharashtra.
He added that AAP, which actively addresses issues of education, healthcare, and civic problems, is set to continue expanding its organizational reach down to the ward level across Maharashtra in the future.