Days after suffering a whitewash in the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital where it drew a blank, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday launched its new slogan - 'Kejriwal in Delhi' - to gear up for the upcoming Assembly polls in the city.
The slogan on banners 'Delhi mein toh Kejriwal...' ('Kejriwal in Delhi') were seen all over as AAP national convenor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Delhi state unit volunteers.
On Sunday, Kejriwal had called a meeting of Delhi state unit volunteers at the Punjabi Bagh Club here.
The meeting was called to interact and discuss the future course of action of the party with volunteers. Delhi will have Assembly polls later this year or in early 2020.
The AAP, which contested the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital, came third with only 18 per cent votes across Delhi. Three of its candidates also lost their deposits as the BJP won all seven seats.
Kejriwal in his address congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for winning and hoped the central government would work in good faith with the state government for the betterment of Delhi.
More From This Section
Asking the party volunteers not to feel disheartened because of the adverse poll results, Kejriwal said the party put up the best candidates and gave a good fight.
"Our volunteers should hold their heads high for having done their job so well. The results were not as per our expectations. There was no negativity about AAP in Delhi. People of the city love and respect us," Kejriwal said addressing party volunteers.
He said the party failed to make the people understand why they should vote for the AAP in this election.
"People gave votes based on the PM face thinking it was a national election. But now it is time to tell them that state elections are coming and we must vote not on a name but on the basis of work done."
He also said that every AAP volunteer should be proud that over four years into governance and six years post formation of the party, "we remain dedicated to the same founding principles of honest politics and ending corruption."
Kejriwal said the Central Bureau of Investigation, Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate had raided him and his ministers but "not even corruption of a single paisa could be proved."
He also said that all AAP leaders, office bearers and volunteers are just as honest as they were on November 26, 2012 - when the party was formed.
He also said that based on the work done by AAP in four years, he believed the 54 per cent vote share of AAP in the last Assembly election would be surpassed in 2020.
Echoing the sentiment, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in his address said: "In 2015, we won on the basis of work done in 49 days. Now AAP will win on the strength of work done in five years. In Delhi, it's only Kejriwal."
Singh said that while the Lok Sabha election may have been fought on one name, the state election will be fought on local issues of education, health care and infrastructure where AAP's work has been recognised globally.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia thanked the crowds of several thousand volunteers gathered there despite a long and tiring campaign.
He appreciated their efforts over the past year and the spirit of AAP volunteers.
Thousands of volunteers were present along with losing party candidates Raghav Chadha, Dilip Pandey, Atishi, Delhi minister Imran Hussain and all MLAs and office bearers.
--IANS
nks/kr