AAP Restructures Leadership Following Election Setback: Bhardwaj Takes Over from Gopal Rai in Delhi, Sisodia Assigned to Punjab
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Synopsis
Following electoral losses, AAP has reshuffled its leadership, assigning Sourabh Bhardwaj as Delhi chief and relocating Gopal Rai to Gujarat. Significant changes include moving Manish Sisodia to Punjab to strengthen ties and oversee election commitments.
Key Takeaways
- AAP has appointed Sourabh Bhardwaj as Delhi unit chief.
- Gopal Rai is reassigned to Gujarat.
- Manish Sisodia moves to Punjab to strengthen party presence.
- New roles introduced in Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir.
- AAP aims to improve prospects in Gujarat and Goa.
New Delhi, March 21 (NationPress) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has implemented a significant restructuring of its organizational framework on Friday, appointing Sourabh Bhardwaj as the new chief of the Delhi unit, while the previous chief, Gopal Rai, has been reassigned to Gujarat.
This substantial reshuffle and reorganization of the party’s state leaders and coordinators follows AAP’s disappointing performance in the Delhi Assembly elections. The decision to redistribute the party’s prominent figures to regions such as Punjab, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh was made during a meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC), which is the highest governing body of the Arvind Kejriwal-led organization.
Alongside these changes, the party has introduced new leaders in two states and appointed coordinators in four.
Former chief Gopal Rai will now oversee the party's operations in Gujarat, while Durgesh Pathak will take on the role of co-convenor.
Sandeep Pathak has been assigned to manage Chhattisgarh, and Mehraj Mallik has been appointed as the head of Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the most significant changes includes the relocation of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to Punjab, aimed at fortifying the party’s stronghold and preventing its decline.
As Arvind Kejriwal's trusted associate, Manish Sisodia is expected to collaborate closely with the party’s state conveners and officials to realize the AAP leader’s vision and objectives in Punjab. He will also monitor the Punjab government’s commitments to its electoral promises, especially as the Bhagwant Mann administration faces criticism for not meeting AAP's pledges.
Manish Sisodia’s transition to Punjab is also viewed as a strategy to enhance communication between the party’s Punjab division and the central leadership in Delhi.
Following their defeat in Delhi, AAP is now focusing on its electoral prospects in Gujarat and Goa, where it previously achieved a moderate vote share.
In Gujarat, AAP secured five seats in the last Assembly elections. Gopal Rai and Durgesh Pathak will evaluate the party’s local connections in the state and prepare for the upcoming Assembly elections in 2027.
In Goa, AAP holds two seats and has maintained a vote share exceeding 5 percent, aiming to bolster public support further.
Sandeep Pathak’s move from Gujarat to Chhattisgarh is significant due to his pivotal role in garnering support for AAP during the 2022 elections.
