"Should look at AAP's concept away from elections," says party's New Delhi convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj

New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): Just after Aam Aadmi Party leader Sauarbh Bharadwaj was appointed as the party's Delhi convenor on Friday, he said that his first priority will be to expand the party, and that they should "move away from elections" for a few days to focus on other things.
"I believe that we need to look at the concept of Aam Aadmi Party away from the elections for a few days, our first priority will be to expand the party organisation. Elections will come and go and we will win too," Bharadwaj told reporters after the party's Political Action Committee (PAC) meeting.
Expressing his gratitude to anyone who has stayed in the party even after losing elections, he said, "I believe that after losing elections, organisation building is easy because when you win a lot of people come to you, but whoever stays in the party after losing is (like) pure gold. So whoever is with the party now, and is ready to work for the party is pure gold."
The AAP leader further took a veiled jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that despite the latter using the police and EC to win, there is still half of the Delhi's population which voted for AAP.
"Even after using the police and Election Commission, there is still half of the population of Delhi which has voted for us and sitting in houses, so we need to take care of them. Also, people who voted for BJP thinking they will get Rs 2,500, gas cylinder, we need to take care of them too," Bharadwaj said.
He also said that the AAP leaders stand with the Delhi government and other MLAs, urging them getting "complete respect" from officers.
"AAP stands with Delhi MLAs and Delhi government. When PWD Minister Parvesh Verma goes for inspections, PWD secretary is not with him. I believe an elected government should get complete respect. We stand on this principle. The officers will have to listen to elected representatives," he said.
Earlier today, AAP appointed former Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj as the chief of the party's Delhi unit. Bhardwaj has replaced Gopal Rai to formulate the political strategies for the party in Delhi to counter the BJP-led Delhi government. Meanwhile, Gopal Rai has been appointed as the state convenor of AAP Gujarat and Pankaj Gupta has been appointed as the state convenor for AAP Goa.
This decision follows the meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting which was conducted at residence of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi LoP and AAP MLA Atishi congratulated him on his appointment as state convenor for Delhi. (ANI)