If SC grants him bail, Kejriwal will campaign for MVA in Mumbai, says AAP

Ruben Mascarenhas, AAP leader. Pic/Aditi Sachin Haralkar

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh is scheduled to visit Mumbai next week to conduct roadshows across all six Lok Sabha constituencies in the city. Meanwhile, if granted bail by the Supreme Court today, Arvind Kejriwal will come to Mumbai to campaign and support the candidates fielded by Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

Ruben Mascarenhas, AAP's national joint secretary, said in an exclusive conversation with mid-day, "Sanjay Singh is expected to visit Mumbai and hold roadshows in all six Lok Sabha constituencies. His visit is expected to energise the party's campaign and draw large crowds." Additionally, sources within AAP have indicated that the party's National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal might join the campaign in Mumbai. "Even though in jail, Kejriwal has asked party to support all India bloc candidates in Mumbai."

Mascarenhas said, "If Kejriwal comes to Mumbai, it could change Maharashtra's politics. It signals a partnership between AAP and Shiv Sena (UBT), which could shake up the state's political scene." "Established in 2013, as an outcome of a people's movement, AAP has come a long way. The only political start-up which grew into a unicorn. Under Kejriwal's visionary leadership, AAP has elected governments in Delhi and Punjab, MLAs in Goa and Gujarat, and scores of local body councillors across the country," added Mascarenhas.

"In 2014, despite being new to politics, AAP got 5.16 per cent of Mumbai's votes. Now, we're a national party, well-known in Mumbai. We have a strong organisation across the city with 227 Wards, 36 Assemblies, and 6 Lok Sabha seats covered. Our Mumbai membership is 2.90 lakh, verified on electoral rolls. After Kejriwal's unjust arrest, we've gained sympathy. Our internal surveys show a 12.6 per cent vote share for the INDIA bloc, which can shake up Mumbai's politics," he said.

"The party cadre is working shoulder to shoulder, with the cadre of India bloc parties on the ground and has been receiving tremendous response on the ground. This is a unique election, where people have taken the election into their own hands and are taking on the Modi government's tyranny," disclosed sources from the party.

"AAP enjoys popular support across the spectrum, both in the working-class masses and the elite. The party is known for its aggressive and penetrative door-to-door campaign. The party cadre has begun door-to-door campaigns across all constituencies, in close coordination with the campaign teams of all candidates. Kejriwal's leadership will garner votes for the INDIA bloc across the country. The support of AAP will prove to be decisive in the electoral victories of all the candidates of INDIA bloc in Mumbai," concluded Mascarenhas.