"Evidence of AAP's waning confidence": BJP after Manish Sisodia's constituency changed to Jangpura

New Delhi [India], December 9 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said on Monday that the party's slogan "Ab Nahi Sahenge, Badal Kar Rahenge" has begun to show its impact, as not only was Manish Sisodia forced to change his assembly constituency, but all 20 sitting MLAs lost their tickets in the AAP's second list of candidates.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its second list of candidates on Monday, in which Manish Sisodia was fielded from Jangpura instead of his previous seat in Patparganj. The AAP also dropped 17 sitting MLAs, opting to replace them with new faces.
Addressing a press conference along with Union Minister of State, Harsh Malhotra, Virendra Sachdeva pointed out that former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was not only forced to change their assembly constituency but that all 20 sitting MLAs lost their tickets in the second list of candidates released by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
"We had declared earlier-- 'Ab Nahi Sahenge, Badal Kar Rahenge.' This is not just BJP's slogan; it is the voice of the people. The public has decided that now Delhi needs a double-engine government. Sisodia's decision to abandon his seat is evidence of AAP's waning confidence," the Delhi BJP Chief said.
He further pointed out that when political parties release candidate lists, the names of their top leaders are usually included.
"However, despite AAP releasing its second list, the name of the former Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, is still missing. Just as Manish Sisodia has fled Patparganj, Atishi and Arvind Kejriwal will also flee their constituencies," Sachdeva said.
Union MoS and BJP MP Harsh Malhotra echoed these sentiments, declaring that the candidate lists released so far reveal that "AAP's ship is sinking."
He pointed out that Manish Sisodia, who had been contesting elections from the same seat for 12 years, was now forced to flee due to a lack of performance over the past five years. Malhotra also noted that prominent names like Dilip Pandey from Timarpur had lost their tickets.
Harsh Malhotra accused AAP of giving tickets to rejected candidates from other parties, signalling that the party has no strong contenders of its own.
"The public is now demanding accountability for the past 10 years, but Kejriwal remains silent," the BJP MP said.
The Assembly polls in Delhi are expected to be held in early 2025. AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eighth seats.