Party opens channels for communication with the two leaders, offers to field them in the national capital.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opened channels of communication with rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, the party MP from Patna Sahib, and former union minister Yashwant Sinha, offering to field them as candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
A source in AAP told ThePrint the party is keen to use both the leaders to its advantage ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. “A section in the party leadership strongly feels that not only will they be heavyweight candidates, they will also improve the chances of the other five candidates in Delhi,” the source said.
Both the leaders, Shatrughan and Yashwant, haven’t made any commitment yet.
Also read: Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘use and throw’ policy could end up hurting him the most
The two leaders have been regularly baiting their party with attacks – overt and covert – with Yashwant Sinha even directly attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Friday, even as the BJP’s National Executive was being held in Delhi, both the Sinhas attended an AAP meeting in Noida.
Addressing the rally, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that the party had requested Yashwant Sinha to be party nominee for a Lok Sabha seat in Delhi.
"जन अधिकार रैली" में भारी बारिश बावजूद साथियों हौसला देखते बना, @ArvindKejriwal जी ने @YashwantSinha जी को चुनाव लड़ने का प्रस्ताव दिया तो जनता ने गर्मजोशी से इसका स्वागत किया, बिहारी बाबू भाई @ShatruganSinha जी ने कहा "मैं भारत की जनता का पहले हूँ भाजपा का बाद में" pic.twitter.com/cOzgAl8FkK
— Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) September 8, 2018
Party may offer seats in Capital
It is learnt that AAP has offered to field Yashwant Sinha, whose son, Jayant Sinha, is union minister of state for Civil Aviation, from New Delhi constituency, currently held by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi.
As for Bollywood star-turned-politician Shatrughan, AAP has offered to field him from West Delhi, currently held by BJP’s Parvesh Verma. But the actor-politician may not be inclined to accept the offer. He is also said to be in touch with the RJD for a constituency in Bihar.
As an alternative, AAP is even mulling shifting its likely nominee Guggan Singh Ranga from North-East constituency if Shatrughan agrees to contest from there.
Also read: With no hope of alliance with Congress, AAP prepares to fight Delhi Lok Sabha seats alone
Addressing the AAP rally in Noida Friday, Shatrughan said, “If speaking the truth is a revolt against the party, then I’m revolting.” He also criticised the Modi government for bringing “disastrous policies” like demonetisation.
“If AAP has any chance to be in next Lok Sabha, it comes from Delhi. The party doesn’t want to spoil it. These two leaders are not just popular faces, their criticism of the Modi government will carry weight. The party wants to use it for its maximum advantage,” a party source said.
Both leaders declined to comment.