Thiruvananthapuram: Aam Aadmi Party is creating ripples at tech hubs in the metros as youngsters tap into the latest on social networking sites and enlist friends to join the Kejriwal bandwagon.
The AAP membership base in the capital city has crossed 7,000 and at Technopark at least a 100 have joined even before the free membership was launched.
AAP is looking at non-party voters, already but are not fully committed to any particular political party. But there is no discrimination.
The AAP district coordinator, Dr T Sugathan, a homeopath based in Varkala, said a membership drive was launched at Technopark to woo the youth.
“Free registration is available from January 9 to 26. The fee is Rs 10 now but many are unable to join in, registering online. We are seeking the help of staffers at Technopark to help others with the registration,” said Dr Sugathan.
Says Anil Saraswathy, who works at Technopark: “I like AAP because it stands for the common man and promotes honest and corruption-free politics, which is what we have been aspiring for. There’s a disconnect between us and our so-called mainstream politicians”.
“I belong to Wayanad but getting my vote transferred here so that I can vote for AAP. I believe we are on the threshold of revolutionary politics,” said Biju Ramachandran, software professional.
Another techie, Shaji S Nair, said: “I’d stopped voting for political parties long back.
But AAP has changed my outlook. I’m for AAP”.
Next: AAP to focus on 7 districts
AAP to focus on 7 districts
Gilvester Assary | DC
Thiruvananthapuram: While the focus of Aam Aadmi Party will be North Indian states in the coming Lok Sabha polls, it is gearing up to put up a serious fight in at least 14 constituencies in the state.
Considering the criteria laid down by the central leadership of the party for candidates, which include organisational strength and the contestants’ profile, the party is expected to put up a strong fight in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kannur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts. It may also contest from Alathur, Attingal, Chalakudy, Kasargod, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kozhikode constituencies.
It will take a call on fielding candidates in other seats depending on the outcome of the membership drive which is currently underway.
Prior to the Delhi elections, the membership in Thiruvananthapuram district was 185 which has now shot up to over 6,000 and is still growing.
Team Kejriwal’s stunning victory has had people from different walks of life signing up for online membership in various parts of the state.
A similar trend has been reported from other districts, including Thrissur, which is considered the strongest unit, Ernakulam and Kottayam.
The membership drive has been intensified in Kannur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts for setting up a solid organisational structure ahead of the polls. The state membership that stood at 15,000 by December 11, is nearing 50,000.
According to AAP national leader Prashant Bhushan, the party was looking for dedicated and honest volunteers besides candidates with a clean profile.
But Yogender Yadav, who is expected to spearhead the AAP campaign in Kerala along with Bhushan, admitted that Kerala and West Bengal were going to be tough states because of the cadre-based political parties.
The AAP is planning to rally people on the LPG price issue by holding a protest outside the Assembly on January 9.
The AAP’s goal is clear. As party state coordinator Manoj Padmanabhan points out, “we want to expose the match-fixing between the UDF and the LDF.”
Next: Youth moving towards AAP, says Congress MLA
Youth moving towards AAP, says Congress MLA
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MLA V.T. Balram has warned mainstream political parties, including the Congress, to rectify the ills plaguing them or witness helplessly the earth moving from under their feet.
In a Facebook comment, Balram said that in the Aam Aadmi Party, he found the manifestation of a better and refined Congress party.
“Their tricolour flag, Nehru cap and Gandhian way of down-to-earth dealing all naturally attract the new crop of Congressmen who yearn for radical changes in the party,’’ he added.
The young MLA from Thrithala said the political parties’ ills are lack of commitment, indifference to people’s problems, unholy nexus with all types of caste and communal outfits, groupism and feudal attitude of leaders. According to him, all such vices were forcing the young generation to distance themselves from the Congress party.
“If the mainstream parties fail to read the writing on the wall, the earth under their feet will slip in no time and they will be reduced to mere spectators,’’ he said.
Balram concluded by saying that the Congress in the state today required an honest, credible and people-friendly leadership. His post received 400 comments till Tuesday evening, mostly supporting his views, 176 shares and 1024 likes.
