The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) recently dropped five candidates, including three in Uttar Pradesh, after negative internal reports. So far, 15 candidates have been withdrawn by the party. Candidates for Robertsganj, Fatehpur Sikri and Ambedkar Nagar in UP were asked to withdraw their candidature when senior party leaders realized that they were not campaigning effectively, while a Bihar candidate was dropped from the poll race after it was found that he had a case of kidnapping against him that he had not declared. Similarly, an Odisha candidate was asked to withdraw when it came to light that there were 28 criminal cases pending against him including one of murder.
“We receive daily candidate reports. If we find criminal or corruption charges against any candidate, we will withdraw them even at the last minute like we have done for the Odisha and Bihar candidates. The seat can go uncontested but we will not field tainted people,” a senior AAP leader said.