MP Assembly Elections: Former Minister Akhand Pratap Singh Joins AAP, Calls Arvind Kejriwal 'Mahapurush'

New Delhi: Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, former minister Akhand Pratap Singh Yadav on Tuesday joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence of party MP Sanjay Singh and other leaders.

In his political career of more than four decades, Yadav, who was first elected to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly in 1977, has been associated with various parties, including the Janata Party, Congress, and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Arvind Kejriwal is a 'mahapurush'

At the press conference, Akhand Pratap Singh Yadav thanked AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal for taking him into the party fold and called him the 'idol of 'trust and honesty'.

"Very few such great men (mahapurush) come on earth," the veteran leader said as he praised the Delhi chief minister.

"I firmly believe that with the support of people, the Aam Aadmi Party will not only form the government in Madhya Pradesh but also make Arvind Kejriwal the Prime Minister after the next Lok Sabha elections," he added.

बहुत गौरांवित हूं। मैंने हमेशा विपक्षी दल से चुनाव लड़ा।

सत्य और ईमानदारी की मूर्ति, @ArvindKejriwal जी ने जितना गरिमामई तरीके से मेरा स्वागत किया, शुक्रगुजार हूं।

ऐसे महापुरुष बहुत कम धरती पर आते हैं।

— AAP में शामिल हुए श्री अखंड प्रताप सिंह यादव pic.twitter.com/qSx6vHHzqa — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 13, 2023

Akhand Pratap Singh has 'strengthened' AAP's presence in Madhya Pradesh

Akhand Pratap Singh Yadav's inclusion is a big boost for AAP as he has been a member of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly thrice. He has also served as a minister in the state during the Congress and BJP regimes.

He was first elected to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly in 1977 and then in 1993 and 2003.

"By joining AAP, Akhand Pratap Singh Yadav has strengthened our presence in Madhya Pradesh... Together we will forge ahead with renewed vigour and determination, ensuring the Aam Aadmi Party's success in Madhya Pradesh and beyond," AAP MP Sanjay Singh said at the presser.

Madhya Pradesh में 3 बार विधायक रहे, 2 बार Madhya Pradesh सरकार में मंत्री रहे श्री अखंड प्रताप सिंह यादव आज AAP में शामिल हो रहे हैं

इनके पिताजी भी भारत के स्वतंत्रता सेनानी थे।

—AAP MP @SanjayAzadSln pic.twitter.com/e5ODu2WGwH — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 13, 2023

After forming the governments in Delhi and Punjab, the AAP is currently gearing up to contest the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls due to be held later this year. The party, which has now got the 'national party' tag, has previously tested the waters in several states including Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, but has failed to leave a mark.