AAP not to contest coming assembly polls in 4 states: Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today said it would not contest upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand due to ''limited resources''.

However, the party would contest two assembly bypolls in Punjab slated for August 21, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal said after the conclusion of party's 3-day national executive meet here.

It was decided at the meeting that the party would not contest assembly elections in Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

"The AAP has limited resources," the former Delhi Chief Minister said but added the party would fight coming assembly bypolls in Punjab.

He called on party workers from all over the country to focus on Delhi assembly polls.
Kejriwal accused Delhi's Lt Governor Najeeb Jung of succumbing to BJP's pressure for not announcing elections in the national capital.

He also accused the BJP of trying to lure his party's MLAs by promising them ministerial berths in its effort to form government in Delhi.

"But, the party miserably failed to lure even a single AAP MLA. Otherwise, the party would have been invited by the LG to form government," Kejriwal said.

The AAP would try to strengthen its base in Punjab, Kejriwal said as the party announced names of candidates for two assembly bypolls in Punjab.

The party won four seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls in the state.