After over a year of campaigning and dozens of exposesagainst political leaders, Arvind Kejriwal entered the political arena onNovember 26. He formally launched his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at Delhi's JantarMantar in front of a huge crowd.
Promising to change the way political parties work in India,Kejriwal called people 'first class citizens' who are victims of 'third classgovernance', Kejriwal said it was time the rules of the game changed. The partyhas named 23 members to its national executive, including Manish Sisodia andlawyer Prashant Bhushan.
Addressing a big gathering, Kejriwal asserted that JanLokpal would be passed in parliament within 15 days and corrupt ministers wouldbe sent to jail within six months of the party being voted to power. Kejriwalvowed that they will neither give nor accept bribes.
Kejriwal, who was elected as National Convener of the party,released the party’s constitution which speaks for a new political culture andprohibits “family rule”. The constitution disallows the relative of a partymember in the state executive or national executive councils from getting aplace on those bodies. It also promises financial transparency and says theparty will publish its accounts and names of donors from time to time.
The activist-turned politician had announced the name of hisparty on November 24. Later he also announced that he will tour the country forthe next one year to expose the Congress and BJP while trying to convincepeople why they should support AAP.
The party will have two kinds of members “ ordinary andactive. Anyone can enroll as an ordinary member by paying Rs 10 as fee forthree years. The ordinary member, depending on his work for the organisation,will be made an active member after four months. The constitution also says ifa party member enters the state executive or national executive councils, hisor her relatives will not find a place in any council. The party collected morethan Rs 1.10 crore on the day of the launch, with former law minister ShantiBhushan alone donating Rs 1 crore.
On November 27, AAP held its first national executive meetat lawyer Prashant Bhushan’s house. Kejriwal announced party’s first internallokpal headed by justice (retired) Bhagwati Prasad and former admiral Ramdass.AAP has also decided that seats would be reserved for candidates from backwardcommunities and women, if found under-represented.
Those present among the crowd were upbeat about the launchof the party. “The very fact that someone has taken the initiative ofchallenging the longstanding issue of corruption in the government is a stepforward,” said Nalini Singh, an advocate who was part of the crowd at JantarMantar. “It could be any party, not just the Aam Aadmi Party. But let thecommon man stand up,” she added.
“I will spread awareness through my rickshaw as long ascorruption ends,” said Vijay Baba, an elderly rickshaw puller. Similar was thepassion from young farmer Manveer Singh when he raised the slogan, “Now it willbe our law, the law of farmers, and the law of the common man.”
in association with Governance Now
