In a bid to make it a party having pan-India presence, Aam Aadmi Party has further strengthened its organisational wings in seven more States for the upcoming polls, contrary to the popular belief that AAP will be restricted to Delhi politics in the next five years. Moreover, there is an agreement among party’s bigwigs that it would not limit itself as a regional. Sources revealed that the AAP will spread its wings at the ground level in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The party will fight both 2017 Punjab and Himachal Pradesh polls
A member of the AAP core group said that his party volunteers would explain to the voters how the Delhi Government’s policies had directly benefitted the common man. “The volunteers would draw a comparison between the functioning of the AAP Government in Delhi and that of the BJP at the Centre.” Party insiders said that the main thrust of the party would be to highlight those measures which the AAP Government had taken for the welfare of the people in the national Capital. “We want to present ourselves as a credible alternative in these seven States. That’s the only thing which will help us to gain the confidence of the people in these States.”
On being asked about which policies would be highlighted in these states, the AAP member said that an average middle class Delhiites was getting a benefit of about Rs 5,000 per month due to power subsidy. “That means one household was getting a benefit of Rs 60,000 every annum.” Another point which would be highlighted is the fact that the AAP Government had announced the highest amount of compensation for those farmers who crops had been badly damaged. “Our volunteers will ask people if the AAP Government could compensate farmers in Delhi, what all had prevented their respective Governments to provide a similar compensation package to the farmers in their States.”
The source said that the State conveners have been told to expand their base up to the booth level. “The State in-charge in Delhi will be directly monitoring the work of the conveners on a regular basis.” The AAP’s thrust in the seven States would be to expand its membership base, improve its financial health, identify local leaders and initiate key programmes.