The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not contest the Khadoor Sahib bypoll in Punjab even as its former member Bhai Baldeep Singh backed by Swaraj Abhiyan will be in the fray.
The party said it does not want to invest its resources in the bypoll, but will focus on the main battle in 2017.
"We will not be fielding candidates for Khadoor Sahib. What is the point in fielding a candidate when the main elections are few months away? We are focussing on 2017," AAP's Punjab co-convenor Durgesh Pathak said.
Incidentally, after its resounding success in Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, which gave four MPs to the party, the AAP had contested bypolls for Talwandi Sabo and Patiala Assembly seats, but the party suffered a drubbing.
AAP had, however, won from Patiala Lok Sabha seat just few months back then.
"We don't want to enter the fray right now. When we know that we have a good chance, we don't want to take any chances for a bypoll, and instead (want to) focus on the bigger target," said a party leader.
AAP former member Bhai Baldeep Singh has got the support of Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, who are formers of the party.
Making it a prestige battle, the SAD is also going out all stops to ensure victory and has fielded Ravinder Singh Brahmpura for the bypoll.
