Thiruvananthapuram: After forming the government in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party has got into election mode in the state inviting online applications from prospective candidates for the 20 Lok Sabha seats.
The AAP national leadership has directed the state unit to take a call on contesting the elections based on two criteria: organisational strength and profile of candidates.
According to state coordinator Manoj Padmanabhan, like in other states, many have submitted online applications expressing their desire to contest the polls in Kerala as well.
“It is too early to shortlist candidates. Filling the online application form itself is an exhaustive exercise since it involves entire details of the candidates. But many people have left the form incomplete and given only basic details. Such forms will not be accepted and we will request them to provide all details,’’ he said.
It will be mandatory for prospective candidates to get the signatures of 100 persons from each Assembly segment in that particular parliamentary constituency. This means the candidates will have to get endorsement of roughly 700 persons from each constituency.
The AAP had applied the same formula for selection of candidates in the Delhi elections.
High-level teams of the party will scrutinise the details furnished by the candidates at three or four levels before taking a final decision.
It is keen on contesting all the 20 seats but given the organisational structure in the state, it might finally settle for 12 to 14 seats.
Prashant Bhushan calls on VS
Thiruvananthapuram: AAP national executive member Prashant Bhushan called on Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan at the Cantonment House here on Monday.
After the closed-door meeting for an hour, Bhushan told reporters that he apprised VS of the policies and progammes of the party.
He also stressed the need for getting the right-thinking people on board. When asked whether he invited Achuthanandan to join the AAP, Bhushan said no invitation as such was extended to him.
“But we did seek his support and guidance. Though we don’t have any alliance with any party, in the longer run we will like to have some kind of understanding with like-minded parties. But all these decisions will be taken by the national leadership at the right time,’’ he added.
Bhushan said Achuthanandan was one of the best and honest politicians in the country.
The AAP leader’s wife Deepa Bhushan was also present at the meeting with Achuthanandan.
