Not in race for 2019 polls: Arvind Kejriwal

The AAP chief asked its members to not run after polls even as he indicated that the party could get a Delhi-like opportunity in Punjab

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal today claimed that the party is not in the race for 2019 elections and asked its members to not run after polls even as he indicated that the party could get a Delhi-like opportunity in Punjab.

"We are not here for power politics. People ask if AAP is in race for 2019? We are not in any race. Delhi's win was miraculous. We just have to keep working hard and honestly. Don't run after elections. All indications are that you are going to get the same opportunity in Punjab," he said in his address at AAP's National Council meeting.

The meeting where the party is expected to elect its new members of the National Executive, the second highest decision-making body of the party, began here today amid protests outside the venue by AAP members who claimed that they were not invited for the meet.

Asserting that the party's main aim was to tackle corruption, Kejriwal claimed his was the first government to sack a Minister for involvement in graft.

"We had two aims in the beginning - tackling corruption and bringing Janlokpal and Swaraj. In the last 10 months, we have worked so hard, I can challenge, Sheila (Dikshit) government did not do in 15 years. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi had the entire nation at his disposal, even he did not do.

"Let's talk about corruption first. There is no such instance in the past that a government sacked its own Minister found involved in corruption. We see how governments keep brushing corruption cases under the carpet, especially against their Ministers.

"But in the case of our govt, nobody knew about it. Someone had sent a clip on WhatsApp. We saw it and felt that the Minister was involved. We analysed it and summoned the Minister and confronted him. He confessed and we sacked him in a press conference in an hour," he said.

Assuring that the Janlokpal bill will be passed in the ongoing Winter Session of Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal said, "Lokpal is also going to be passed in this session. It's the same old bill minus citizen charter and vigilance. We have implemented the vigilance aspect. Citizen charter is being tabled today. So BJP and Congress have no issue to protest against."

The Chief Minister also claimed that, "the party is implementing the idea of Swaraj through executive orders and not through legislation, because Centre would never clear it. Why should we give them an opportunity to install Swaraj?"

Listing AAP government's achievements, Kejriwal said, "We completed a flyover before deadline. Metro also completed its project ahead of deadline. But what is different is, we saved Rs 100 crores on it."

"Manishbhai (Sisodia) is today tabling a historic bill today. All services will be delivered in time bound manner. In case of default, officers will pay fine to you," he said.

The National Council is the body of founding members of the party, while National Executive is the second highest decision-making body of the party. The Council ratifies all the decisions taken by the party.

According to the party's Constitution, the National Executive has to be reconstituted every three years. The tenure of the present members of the National Executive ends this month. The AAP was formed in November 26, 2012.

Founding members Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, Ajit Jha and Anand Kumar, who were expelled in April this year, are to be replaced by new members.