UPSC teacher & AAP leader Avadh Ojha says retiring from politics; Somnath Bharti says 'not a short term project'

Ojha was fielded by the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly elections from the Patparganj seat this year.

New Delhi: Civil services coaching teacher and motivational speaker Avadh Ojha on Tuesday announced retirement from politics, nearly 10 months after he lost his maiden electoral battle from Delhi's Patparganj assembly constituency.

Ojha was fielded by the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly elections this year.

In a post on X in Hindi, Ojha said, "Respected Arvind ji, Manish ji, Sanjay ji, all AAP office-bearers, workers, leaders etc., a heartfelt thank you to all of you. I shall remain indebted for the love and respect you have given me. Retirement from politics is my personal decision. Arvind ji, you are a very great leader. Jai Hind." He also thanked the residents of Patparganj for giving him so much love.

He had replaced former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who had won from Patparganj in 2013, 2015 and 2020. Ojha lost to BJP's Ravinder Singh Negi by a margin of over 28,000 votes.

Sisodia, himself, had unsuccessfully contested from Jangpura, where he lost to BJP's Tarvinder Singh Marwah by over 600 votes.

Quote tweeting Ojha on X, AAP leader Somnath Bharti said Ojha was given the ticket by the party, keeping in view the fact that he will work with AAP despite the election results.

"I have personal regard for you @OjhaAvadh57 Ji but politics is not a short term project and a person of your maturity and prominence should have weighed options before stepping into Politics and that too with @AamAadmiParty," Bharti said in a post on X.

The former Malviya Nagar MLA said there were many who have worked hard since the beginning who could have been given the ticket from Patparganj, "but the party gave you that opportunity, believing that you would work with us irrespective of the electoral results".

"AAP is the future of India and we must strive hard to make it a success in all states. Which party talks of reforms in education, healthcare and other basic needs of ordinary people which makes over 90% population of India," Bharti asked while stressing that parties like the BJP and Congress do not talk about people's concerns.