Key Takeaways
- The third I.N.D.I.A alliance meeting will be held in Mumbai on Aug 31‑Sep 1, 2023.
- AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar urges that Arvind Kejriwal become the alliance’s PM candidate.
- Party leaders are divided, with Atishi Marlena stating Kejriwal has no PM ambitions while other members continue to push for his candidacy.
The third meeting of the I.N.D.I.A alliance is all set to take place over a span of two days on August 31 and September 1, 2023, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. A day before the crucial meeting, AAP Spokesperson, Priyanka Kakkar, on Wednesday, said that would want Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, to be made the alliance’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Kakkar said that the AAP National Convenor has been highlighting important issues of the public, and has emerged as a credible challenger to PM Narendra Modi’s hold on the country’s highest office.
She added, ‘Be it the PM’s academic records or qualifications or any other issue, Arvind Kejriwal has been putting across his views boldly on myriad subjects.’
‘I.N.D.I.A is working to steer the country in a new direction.’, stated Kakkar.
She further expressed, ‘Our government provides free water, free education, free electricity, free bus rides for women, and free pilgrimage for the elderly. And, yet we presented a surplus budget. Arvind Kejriwal raises people’s issues and has emerged as a challenger to PM Narendra Modi.’
While as per Kakkar, Kejriwal should be the PM candidate for the Opposition in 2024, on the other hand, hours later after Kakkar’s statement, Delhi Cabinet Minister, Atishi Marlena, said that the Delhi CM does not have such aspirations.
‘I am making it official that Arvind Kejriwal is not in the race to become the prime minister of the country. He has joined the India bloc to save the Constitution, democracy and the country.’, stated Atishi, while saying that Kakkar’s statements were personal.
On the other hand, when the party’s Delhi convener and Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, was asked about it, he said that every member of the AAP wants Kejriwal for the prime minister’s post but a decision on it would only be finalised by all the members of the INDIA bloc.
‘Every party wants their leader to become prime minister. AAP members also want their national convener to become PM. All members of the INDIA alliance will sit down and whatever the decision is, we will go accordingly.’, he added.
