For 2024 polls, AAP to leverage ‘public anger’ on Sisodia arrest

Sisodia was arrested by CBI on February 26 and by the Enforcement Directorate earlier this week in connection with cases lodged in relation to irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise policy. Former AAP minister Satyendar Jain, meanwhile, was arrested by the ED on charges of money laundering in an unrelated case in May last year.

AAP is now planning a pan-country signature campaign. The letter will be addressed to the PM and will say that Sisodia and Jain have been arrested as part of “BJP and Modi’s political conspiracy”.

“The main target will be the Prime Minister. People recognise that these arrests are an abuse of power. Manish ji is very popular among the people — not just in Delhi but also in other states. There is an undercurrent of support for AAP over this issue and starting with the door-to-door campaign, we will make it our main plank for the upcoming polls. BJP has earned itself a self-goal after the arrest and the odds are stacked in our favour… no door will be left unknocked,” said a senior party leader.

AAP’s recent direct attacks on Modi, while not new, are a departure from the line the party had drawn after the loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. At the time, the party had launched a direct attack on the PM. In Delhi, it did not win a single Lok Sabha seat.

“Things are different this time. To his credit, few issues have stuck when it comes to his reputation but this arrest is being seen as the PM’s direct attack against an honest person,” the leader said.

Officials said that days after the arrest, a large-scale “listening exercise” was carried out over 7-10 days where questions regarding the arrest and the party’s plans were asked.

“Of the 5,200 people surveyed, 85% said they will support the signature campaign. This is across party lines and voter bases. A similar exercise will also be carried out in other states,” the leader added.