AAP may drop 20 MLAs to beat anti-incumbency: Party leaders

Senior command to take decision based on ground surveys, work report of MLAs in their constituencies

- Alok KN Mishra

In a bid to neutralise anti-incumbency sentiment and "public angst" against some legislators, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has been securing landslide victories in Delhi since the 2015 assembly elections, is likely to drop more than a third of its sitting MLAs from the running for the 2025 polls, according to at least three senior leaders aware of the developments.

The decision to drop more than 20 legislators is based on ground surveys and evaluation of legislators on a range of criteria such as development work carried out in respective segments, popularity and accessibility, and anti-incumbency sentiment, the leaders involved in the election strategy of the party told HT.

The party has already dropped three sitting legislators from its first list of candidates released last month.

"The tickets are being finalised on the basis of surveys and the feedbacks of the local people. While many MLAs continue to be quite popular, there is anger against many MLAs but locals are saying they are satisfied with Arvind Kejriwal. As per our estimate, around 20 MLAs may be dropped. The final decision, however, will be taken by the party leadership," said one of the three leaders, asking not to be named.