With the reports coming in that youths in Bihar were flocking to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after its scintillating performance in Delhi Assembly poll, here is something which has put the party in a fix and stirred a controversy. The party has opened its new office at the residence of a former RJD leader and Minister in previous lalu Prasad Cabinet.
The office located at the ground floor of the three-storey building which is the residence of former RJD leader Ramdeo Yadav was inaugurated in State Capital’s Sri Krishna Nagar area on Sunday. The AAP members got the party’s new office inaugurated by a rickshaw puller Sunny Paswan.
Ramdeo Yadav, an MlA from Munger was Cooperative Minister in the lalu Cabinet in 1993-94, but was soon dropped as he started attacking the RJD chief for his way of functioning. The AAP members, however, said that Ramdeo Yadav had rented them the ground floor of his house at just `1 for the party office.
But, ever since the AAP had caught the national political limelight, there appeared a scramble for the people associated with the erstwhile Anna movement or Arvind Kejriwal to become its leader in their respective areas.
The new party office too invited occasion for the AAP supporters to prove their true loyalty to the AAP and its credentials. Some of the ‘so called’ AAP leaders raised eyebrows over the location of the new party office, though some supported it vehemently.
“The new office should not be opened in the house of a former RJD Minister as it tarnishes the reputation of the AAP party. It sends wrong signals,” said an AAP leader preferring anonymity. His friend too said that the AAP has its own honest dignity and political integrity and opening party’s office in the house belonging to a former RJD leader would malign its image.
None of them wanted to quote their name on record saying the AAP has not formally launched its party in Bihar with its office bearers. “We all were formerly associated with Anna movement,” said one of them.
Though, almost all the ‘so called’ AAP members-over 100 in number carrying brooms in hand and wearing AAP brand cap-defended the opening of office at former RJD leader Ramdeo Mahto’s residence asking “what’s wrong in itIJ”. “Ramdeo Yadav was in RJD long time back and everyone knows that he was dropped from the Ministry as he attacked lalu Prasad,” said one of them. The others nodded heavily in affirmation.
“We’ve just taken the house for office on rent and Ramdeo Yadav will not be allowed to interfere in the office work,” said AN Singh, an AAP officer-bearer in whose name the rent agreement of the office has been signed. However, former RJD Minister Ramdeo Yadav was present on the occasion of the new AAP office inauguration and shook hands with all those having broom in their hands and the AAP brand cap on heads.
Significantly, the AAP party had also hit headlines in Bihar when an alleged criminal Kundan Singh had joined the party. Though, later after protest his membership was cancelled by the AAP office bearers.
Meanwhile, in Bihar over 60,000 membership receipts have been made for AAP party after its Delhi Assembly storm. The membership drive for the party was going on in 15 makeshift camps in and around Patna and in 37 districts across the State.
“Such is the enthusiasm that the newly formed party has run out of membership forms and the headquarters in Delhi has been asked to supply another 20,000 forms”, said an AAP office bearer.
Dr Ratnesh Choudhary who has all along been associated with Anna movement and India against Corruption movement in Bihar, said that AAP wanted his party to contest on all 40 seats.