Workers allege favouritism in AAP’s Patiala MC poll candidates selection

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) found itself at the receiving end of favouritism allegations over its candidate selection for the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Patiala. Party workers have levelled charges that long-time volunteers were being overlooked in favour of those close to MLA Ajitpal Singh Kohli and Health Minister Balbir Singh.

The accusations, however, prompted a strong response from AAP’s district urban president Tejinder Mehta, who dismissed these as baseless. He clarified that the party had meticulously scrutinised 600 applications before finalising the list and the primary selection criterion was the candidates’ “winnability”.

“We considered only those applicants who had a strong chance of winning the elections,” he said, adding, “The process was transparent and aimed at ensuring electoral success.”

Meanwhile, the party has intensified its campaign, expressing confidence in securing a majority in the MC elections. The AAP has also unveiled its official election slogan: “Clean City, Green City, Garbage-Free Patiala”, emphasising its focus on urban development and environmental sustainability.

“We have put in all our energies into the election and looking forward to form a House with majority of our candidates,” said Mehta.

In response to the allegations levelled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the AAP was misusing official machinery in the civic body polls, Mehta said the it was in fact the saffron party that was notorious for using Central agencies for arm-twisting the leaders of the Opposition and for winning elections. “I can only laugh that the BJP, which framed our national convener Arvind Kejriwal in a false case, is talking of fairness,” Mehta said.