They are yet to have an adequate presence in Odisha. A small number of them are, however, quite active in the State capital, staging agitations on stray issues though no one knows who their main leader in the State is.
These activists belong to Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (APP). After taking over Delhi, the party has decided to field candidates in the ensuing General Elections.
The AAP’s obvious target is leaders like Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi at the national level and Naveen Patnaik in Odisha.
The AAP’s strategy is very clear. In the first phase, these anti-corruption crusaders target the elite and middleclass urban populations and can be contacted through mobile, internet, television and other media.
The prime targets of the AAP in Odisha would obviously become Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Baleswar, Brahmapur, Puri and Sambalpur lok Sabha seats. Besides, other smaller towns may also have AAP candidates for Assembly elections, sources said.
The AAP is expected to particularly focus on Bhubaneswar and Cuttack as it feels that the middleclass in the twin city understands the value of its fight against corruption.
Though the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government claims that it has been fighting against corruption, people in the cities do not seem to be quite convinced about it. If Patnaik is really serious against corruption, how could mine owners dupe the State of over Rs 60,000 crore, many of them question, adding that the Chief Minister’s claim is nothing but eyewash.
This apart, though the BJD Government has introduced Re1-a-kg rice, the middleclass is grossly neglected and rather feels angry as their money is being spent for creating vote bank.
If Arvind Kejriwal takes Odisha seriously in his agenda, the AAP would most probably give a tough fight to the BJD, besides the BJP and the Congress, political observers feel.