Gurugram candidate: AAP to pick among three

Gurugram: The decision on the candidates of AAP is expected to be taken on April 16, the date in which its alliance partner Jan Nayak Janata Party will announce its candidates. With strong voters base, it is believed that Gurugram will be certainly one out of three crucial seats where the AAP will field its candidates.

According to insiders, the party's Nuh district president Anees Khan was the front-runner for the Gurugram seat until the alliance came through. Changing political dynamics after the formation of the alliance, however, have compelled the party to reconsider its options. Three new names, who have contested elections from the Gurgaon seat in the past as members of other political parties, are among the front-runners for the seat this time, party members familiar with the matter said.

All three potential candidates are from different regions of the state. One is from Rewari, while the other two are from Mewat and Gurugram respectively. "All three names being discussed are strong leaders. They have been associated with electoral politics, and have contested elections from Gurugram in the past," said a party leader, who did not wish to be named.

One of the three potential candidates is a Muslim face who enjoys positive traction among voters in Mewat, a party member said. A conference call with the three candidates was arranged on Saturday to discuss details. The final list of candidates is expected to be released by April 16. "We have formed a joint action committee to finalise who will contest from which constituency. Talks are underway and the final word will be out in two or three days," Sudhir Yadav, the party's Haryana spokesperson, said.