Handful of poor and elderly tribal women from Silli, about 40 kilometers away from here and also the constituency of political bigwig Sudesh Mahto, came down complaining about irregularities in old-age pension, BPl list and PDS system at Raj Bhawan. The sight may be a familiar one, but not the banner. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has started taking steps to spread wings in Jharkhand.
The party, formed to fight corruption not only with words but with a competent mechanism in place, started an extensive membership drive in as many as 15 districts of the State. In the first phase, it was headed by social activist Arvind Kejriwal, made available 500 membership forms in all the districts that have already been exhausted.
"The response has been tremendous and we are going to review the entire membership drive in the first week of May. Currently the focus is on membership and the party is not thinking about elections as such," said Sunil Mahto, a Right to Information activist, who joined the AAP since its inception.
The AAP, formed after Kejriwal parted ways with Gandhian Anna Hazare, is yet to form district-wise committees in the State. "There are some activities taking place in a few districts and people have got associated with us. We would be able to form a system in 15-20 days at State level and name the office bearers," said Ajit Jha, a national executive member of AAP who has been given charge of the State.
Jha added that the central leadership has identified some local activists after thoroughly verifying their credentials. "As our party's USP is impeccability and sanctity in public life any one can bring in our notice if there is anything objectionable about our members. We have our assumptions but that may not be always right. No one is a holy cow for us," he said.
The organisation though has tough task ahead when it will face poll realities in the State, marred with cash-for-vote scandals and several others alike. Presently AAP is focusing on Delhi Assembly polls but chances are that the party will field candidates in Jharkhand elections too, if takes place after elections in the national capital. "The process of candidates' selection is clearly laid out and the central leadership would take the final call. But we expect that if elections in Jharkhand happen after November we may contest," said Sunil Mahto.
The agenda and line of the party have also been made available to the preparatory committee that has three names - Basant Hetamsaria of Ramgrah and Digambar Sah of Pakur besides Mahto into it. AAP is yet to reach Simdega, Gumla, lohardaga, Palamau, latehar, West Singhbhum and Chatra districts.
In its initial days, the response may not look as encouraging but it is on expected lines. One Kislay from Silli recalled the movement wrongly by identifying it with Anna Hazare but uttered his agony rightly.
"Sudesh Mahto has done just his own growth and not of the poor there. I believe Aam Aadmi Party can change things if it gets an opportunity."