To harness the power of its volunteers once again, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is gearing up to hold ‘volunteers’ milnis on Saturday in Punjab, reminiscent of its successful grassroots campaign that led to the party’s landslide victory in the state assembly polls two years ago.
After leveraging the power of volunteers to clinch victory on 92 out of 117 seats in 2022 polls, the ruling party is all set to replicate its success in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections too. The party has turned its focus back to its grassroots strength — the volunteers, in the wake of the recent departure of the two key leaders — Jalandhar MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, and MLA Sheetal Angural.
AAP’s resounding triumph in the 2022 Punjab assembly elections, where it secured 42.01 per cent of the total votes polled, was largely attributed to its robust volunteer-driven campaign. To counter the BJP’s alleged ‘Operation Lotus’, the AAP has embarked on a mission to re-energize its volunteer base.
Of the total 117 seats, AAP secured victory on 92 (with 78.6 per cent seat share), while Congress could secure 18 seats (15.4 per cent seat share), SAD four seats, including one of BSP (3.4 per cent), BJP two seats (1.7 per cent), and one independent candidate. In terms of vote share, AAP secured 42.01 per cent votes, followed by 22.98 per cent by congress, 20.15 per cent by SAD-BSP alliance, while BJP and its allies secured 7.73 per cent votes.
In a significant departure from traditional political engagements, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for the first time, will be meeting the party volunteers face-to-face, emulating the model of direct interactions he has with the party legislators and Ministers.
Termed as ‘Volunteers’ Milni”, these meetings are scheduled to be held in Moga at 12 pm and Jalandhar at 3 pm on Saturday. The Moga meeting will include the volunteers from Malwa region, while the Jalandhar meeting will involve leaders from the Doaba region.
Village-level leaders are expected to participate actively in these gatherings, reflecting the party's commitment to grassroots engagement, and efforts to reconnect with its volunteer base.
Chief Minister Mann, who is also the party’s Punjab unit president, will participate in these programs, along with AAP’s national organizing secretary and poll strategist Dr Sandeep Pathak.
The 'volunteers' milnis are poised to serve as a platform for volunteers to voice their concerns, ideas, and suggestions directly to the party leadership. By fostering open dialogue and active engagement, the AAP aimed to rejuvenate its volunteer base and galvanize support ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
In Kejriwal’s Absence, Mann to Campaign in Haryana
With AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal behind bars in the Delhi excise policy scam, Mann will be shouldering the responsibility of leading the party campaign from Haryana to Gujarat. Mann is likely to participate in program in Kurukshetra on Monday, where he will canvass in support of the party’s candidate. He will also participate in programs in Delhi on April 12 and 13, followed by engagements in Gujarat on April 16 and 17, where he will be involved in the nomination of party candidates and other activities.
Nationwide Fast On Sunday Against Kejriwal’s Arrest
Apart from bolstering the party’s electoral prospects, AAP has announced a nationwide fast or hunger strike on April 7 in protest against the arrest of its national convener Arvind Kejriwal. In line with this, AAP has devised a strategy to conduct a collective hunger strike in the village of Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed-e-Aazam Bhagat Singh. Mann will be leading this hunger strike, while district and tehsil-level programs will also be organized by the party.
