After its humbling defeat in the Rajouri Garden by poll, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday admitted that people were upset with the party over its previous legislator quitting to contest the Punjab Assembly election.
Sisodia said the party will pull up its socks in the upcoming MCD polls and try to convince people of Rajouri Garden by showcasing the "good work" done by the Delhi government.
The Rajouri Garden by poll was necessitated after AAP MLA Jarnail Singh quit to contest from Lambi in Punjab against then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Jarnail came third in the contest.
The BJP-SAD candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa trounced his nearest rival and Congress' Meenakshi Chandela by over 14,500 votes. AAP's Harjeet Singh came in a distant third.
"There was anger among people after Jarnail went to Punjab. We tried convincing them, but with the results we are realising that people were not convinced and remained upset.
"We will pull up our socks in the upcoming polls and also try to convince the people of Rajouri Garden. Whatever work was done by Jarnail we will carry it forward," Sisodia said.
When asked about the possible impact of the Rajouri Garden by poll on the MCD election, Sisodia said the BJP too lost several by polls after its resounding victory in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, Jarnail Singh on on Thursday issued a statement that the party needs to conduct an "honest introspect on its drubbing in the by-election."
"Win or loss is part of electoral politics, but the party needs a deep and honest introspection. Party fights collectively and win or loss is a collective responsibility," he said. He, however, declined to elaborate on his remarks.
His comments came just hours after Sisodia acknowledged that people were upset with the AAP over Jarnail Singh's resignation as Rajouri Garden MLA to fight in the Punjab Assembly election.
Sources said that Jarnail Singh is also unhappy over how the party functioned in Punjab during the Assembly polls in the state.
AAP was expected to fare well, but it managed to bag only 20 seats in the 117 seat Assembly.