People want relief from 'autocratic' BJP at Centre, says Gopal Rai

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party Tuesday said Assembly poll trends in five states show people want to get rid of an "autocratic" BJP government at the Centre, and announced it will launch from December 14 a door-to-door campaign to defeat the saffron party here in the Lok Sabha polls next year.

AAP leaders huddled at party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence Tuesday evening to discuss emerging political scenario and preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, as trends showed electoral reverses for the BJP in Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and gains for the Congress.

The AAP, however, ducked questions on possibility of an alliance with the Congress.

"We will start campaigning on all the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi from December 14. In view of these results, I believe that people will support the AAP and we will defeat the BJP," senior party leader Gopal Rai said when asked about alliance with the Congress.

"The AAP believes the process of BJP's defeat has begun and people want relief from its autocracy," Rai said.

The Assembly election results in the five states show that people are favouring locally strong parties to defeat the BJP, he claimed.

"The AAP will accomplish this task in Delhi by defeating the BJP in Lok Sabha elections next year," he said.

AAP's own performance in Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh was lacklustre as it could gather votes fewer than 'none of the above' (NOTA) votes.