Delhi Election 2013

Complete Report
A record 66 per cent of around 1.2 crore voters exercised their franchise on 4th December in the Delhi assembly election.

On December 8, final results were made public.

Final Results

AAP                          :  28

BJP                            : 32

Congress                    : 8

Others                        : 2

Total                          : 70

• As clear none of the parties are in position to attain a natural majority (min of 36 seats)
• Moreover each of the party has made it very clear that they won't try to form government via coalition.
• If no party can agree to form a coalition government, Delhi would be put under president's rule until a new election is held within six months.
• Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung dissolved the Legislative Assembly and forwarded the resignation of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to President Pranab Mukherjee. 
• With the Aam Aadmi Party  winning over 28 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Election Commission is all set to recognise it as a ‘State party.’
  To get recognition as a State party, all the candidates set up by the party together should get a minimum of eight per cent of the valid votes polled in the entire State or secure a minimum of six per cent of the total votes polled and one Assembly seat for every 25 seats in that State.

Quotes(who said what?):

• Anna Hazare advises Kejriwal not to take support from any party in Delhi. 
• Kiran Bedi tweets: "Aap was born when Congress refused to set up an SIT on Coalgate in July 2011!Had it done so! Aap may not have been there today to beat them!" 
• Kiran Bedi also advised that BJP and AAP should come together to form a strong government in Delhi
• This is not mine but people's victory, Arvind Kejriwal tells supporters. 
• Arvind also said that AAP is ready for reelections 
• I thank my constituents of Krishna Nagar, says Dr Harsh Vardhan. He further congratulated AAP for its performance and thanked Sheila Dixit for having served Delhi for 15 years. 
•  Sheila Dikshit says
  : "We have to analyse what went wrong." She said she accepts election results with due respect and further thanked everyone for their support for 15 years. Asked whether she failed to read the public mood, she sarcastically said, "Bewakoof hai na hum?" ("We are idiots") 
• Aam Aadmi Party's victory forces us to think politics in a way different from the traditional way the major parties have been doing, says Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. 

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/assembly-elections-2013/delhi-polls/delhi-assembly-elections-result-2013-bjp-aap-make-early-gains-congress-catches-up_895190.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2013/delhi-assembly-elections/Delhi-elections-2013-55-voting-till-4pm/articleshow/26856659.cms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_Legislative_Assembly_election,_2013
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/delhi-live-aap-bjp-wont-join-hands-govt-formation-uncertain-1273079.html
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ec-to-recognise-aam-aadmi-party-as-state-party-in-delhi/article5436919.ece

Why AAP deserves a Chance?

Well its because of two basic reasons
First, its an alternative to BJP and congress who have been given various chances but they have given us disappointment in return...

Second,  transparency in donation and candidate selection procedure of AAP

Lets unroll both the basic reason to the complex reasoning....

I) Its true that nation is in dread need for a decent political alternative because the dual policy of BJP and congress and their allies have painted the country politics BLACK AND WHITE!Lets first define the term 'Black and White Politics'
Its basically the politics which lacks 'colors'(or more formally choices) due to presence of limited parties or presence of multiple parties with limited ideologies. e.g in India we have lots of parties but these parties either have a BJPian ideology or that a CONGRESSIAN one...
So presently even if we have a  lots of parties to chose from , we still have just two ideologies to chose i.e BJP and congress..SO when Congressian ideology is in rule it becomes the evil (or black) and BJPian ideology in opposition becomes the saint(white) and visa-versa!

AAP is definitely a pure alternative with no relation to BJPina or congressian ideology whatsoever


2)Another Big reason to Vote AAP is its

A) Transparency: AAP is presently the only party which keeps track of its donation gives
receipt for each donation made and uploads the data of donations on its website for public transparency.BJP and Congress are not even close to this sort of transparency.

B) Candidate selection procedure:While BJP and Congress and their allies selects their candidates in close rooms and with deals below the table and by heredity , AAP with acute contrast have an OPEN CANDIDATE SELECTION PROCEDURE in which" 100 voters of any assembly constituency can come together and propose the name of a person they wish to be the candidate for their constituency.  "Then personal information of candidates is put up on website where people can suggest their views about the person.

Considering all the suggestions and that person has no criminal record.

AAP also oppose power gained by heredity and swears that no two people from same family will be given position in the party. Apart from the innovative candidate selection procedure, most of the candidates themselves are from among the REAL AAM ADMI (COMMON MAN)( SEE CANDIDATES LIST )
SEE COMPLETE CANDIDATE SELECTION PREJUDICE HERE
A Report by Aware me

AAP manifestos(point wise) along with comparison with other parties manifestos

1.  Lokayukta bill will be passed in 15 days of AAP getting elected which will have the CM, ministers and MLAs under its purview.
2. Introduction of Swaraj Bill. Mohalla Sabhas to decide on local governance issues.
3. Full statehood to Delhi, police and law and order should come under Delhi government.
4.  Electricity bills to be reduced by half, electricity distribution companies will be audited
5. 700 litres of free water to every family. Those consuming more will pay more, opposes privatisation of Delhi Jal Board.
6.  Education in government schools to be as good as that in private schools, 500 new schools to be opened. New law would be introduced to control profiteering by private schools and colleges.
7. New colleges to be started for students specifically from Delhi.
8. Security for women. Citizens Security Force will be established.
9. Ensure use of SC component plan for the welfare of scheduled castes, and implementation of SC/ST and OBC reservation in Delhi government. Zero or low interest loans for entrepreneurs.
10. Ensure that false cases against Muslims are not registered; Bring transparency in the functioning of Delhi Waqf Board.

Comparison with Congress and BJP Manifestos

 

1. CONG(a): Nothing on Jan lokpal bill but speaks of transparency through e-governance with an aim to cover 90 per cent of government services.
   BJP(b):The institution of Lokayukta would be made effective with sufficient powers and helplines would be set up for reporting corruption cases, public grievance cell shall be established in government offices for redressal of grievances in a time-bound manner. 
2. a)It already has Bagidari Scheme.
   b)To ensure good governance, the party would promote e-governance to ensure transparent, responsive and corruption free administration, and form Accountability Commission to ensure efficient use of public money. 
3. Demands full statehood and centralised command structure. Also Free Economic Zone across NCR so that business and traffic can move seamlessly
4. a) To set up fast track grievance cells to address complaints, increase power generation and promote solar power.
   b)Promised to reduce electricity charges by 30 percent in a manifesto for the December 04 Delhi Assembly Elections. 
5.  a)Will extend the subsidy to domestic consumers from current 30 Kilo litre per month to 40 Kilo litre per month, 3 new water treatment plants to be set up.
   b) 1)promised full statehood to the city, reduction in vegetable prices within 30 days of coming to power, and 12 subsidised LPG cylinders in a year to each household.
   2)Trauma centres in all districts and medicines of 25 types free of cost to every 
6. : Introduce the option of second shift in all private schools to open a second shift and thereby creating at least 25 per cent more seats,150 new government schools, 10000 new teachers.
7. : More evening colleges to increase seats by 30 per cent, University of Health Sciences with 5 medical colleges.
8. a) Push for police reforms, evolve mechanism for better cooperation with police, special training for police to handle crimes against women.
   b)1)Emphasising on taking steps for safety of women, the BJP said 24-hour call centres and a dedicated 'Women Security Force' would be set up under the direct supervision of the chief minister.
   2) The party promised to construct more hostels for working women and set up fast track courts for speedy trial in cases of violence against women. 
9.  Easy loans for self employment groups (SC/ST, OBC, Minority), Rs 1800 per year for every child in school, scholarships.
10. a)Modernisation of Madrassa education, Haj house in Dwarka.
    b) formation of madrasa board and expansion of Lal Dora area. 

NOTE : This is just comparison of basic points of manifestos of AAP, Congress and BJP and not the complete manifestos

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/comparative-study-of-congress-and-aap-manifestos-for-delhi/435287-80-258.html
http://zeenews.india.com/assembly-elections-2013/delhi-polls/delhi-bjp-manifesto-promises-lower-vegetable-prices-electricity-charges_892459.html

AAP released its innovative tailor-made manifestos for 28 Assembly seats

• Aam Aadmi Party yesterday (27th November) released the first 28 of its 70 constituency-level manifestos, which it claimed will act as a ready reference for party representatives to focus on problem areas.

• According to the party compilation of manifestos was a “Herculean Task” as they had to filter from over 3,000 suggestions that we received during our meetings with the people in a constituency.Party’s policy making was constituted at two levels -issues related to the city were discussed in the Delhi Manifesto-local-level issues form the basis of constituency-level manifestos.
  
  
• AAP volunteers and members went to various localities in each constituencies and gathered information on a number of policy issues public service provision, the state of housing, transport systems, employment, issues concerning minorities and others.
  The findings from these background studies were used to develop sector-specific proposals which later came out as the city-level manifesto that was finally released on 21 November.
• Every effort was made to include a range of neighbourhood types planned colonies, unauthorised areas, resettlement colonies, regularised, jhuggi clusters, and rural and urban areas, as well as sections of the society.
  The analysis of findings from these meetings formed the basis of the constituency-level manifestos that were prepared by Aam Aadmi Party volunteers at the constituency level.
  
  
  
• This idea of coming out with 70 constituency-wise manifestos (also known as tailor-made manifestos) was also adopted by BJP who released their manifestos after AAP. AAP is therefore attacking BJP  for stealing its innovative idea of a tailor-made manifestos. 

Source:http://www.firstpost.com/politics/delhi-polls-aap-releases-manifestos-for-28-assembly-seats-1253881.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/delhi-polls-bjp-follows-aap-releases-tailormade-manifesto/436311-80-258.html

AAP sting operation: Complete report

A website named Media Sarkar  conducted a sting operation on some leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). 

The sting video footage showed Shazia Ilmi, AAP candidate from south Delhi's RK Puram seat and party leader Kumar Bishwas allegedly agreeing to help a undercover reported without documents when offered donations in cash.The sting operations were also done on AAP candidates from Kondli (Manoj Kumar), Sangam Vihar (Dinesh Mohaniya), Okhla (Irfan Ullah Khan), Rohtas Nagar (Mukesh Hooda), Deoli (Prakash) and Palam (Bhawna Gaur).

However AAP demanded the raw footage of the string and on examining the 14 hours long raw footage they alleged that crucial bits of the so called  'string' were deliberately deleted from the raw tape in order to defame the candidates.
AAP held a press conference in which it showed the unedited raw footage of string of each of its alleged candidate in order to prove how crucial bits of conversation were deleted from the actual footage.
AAP also uploaded those raw footage on its site http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/Real-story-behind-the-sting

Its also interesting to note that Anuranjan Jha, CEO of Media Sarkar earlier resisted to hand over the raw tape to AAP saying " We will not hand over the tape to the AAP. Representatives of AAP can come to our offices to see the footage. The AAP is under public scrutiny now. What are the grounds for handing over the tape to the AAP."

Following difference were observed between footage of string  released by Media Sarkar and 'raw footage' of the same string revealed by AAP

1.  Shazia Ilmi( (R.K.Puram))
   Edited footage: Shows that Shazia Ilmi agrees to attend a demonstration against a company because she receives large cash donations. She agrees to accept these donations without any receipt.
   
   Raw footage:  
    Shazia Ilmi refuses to help without any documentary evidence. saying, “We will only do it if we have concrete evidence. I have been a TV journalist for so many years. Hum jhoot nahin bolenge. We will not lie.”
   
   When asked about donations Shazia  says that donations can be made in cheque or cash and a receipt will be provided. When the undercover reporter says she does not want a receipt, Shazia says cash be used to pay volunteer salaries (the word “seedha” is not used as claimed by the sting transcript) and the cash can shown ‘in that [...volunteer stipend] account’.
   (See raw footage)
2.  Kumar Vishwas
   Edited footage: Shows that he accepts money in cash and no receipts are provided. Kumar also demands travel by Business Class and asks for a hotel suite.
   Raw Footage:
   Reporter asks Kumar Vishwas(a noted singer and poet) and his personal assistant discuss the terms of engagement to speak at a Kavi Sammelan.
   Kumar notes that he will not attend the show unless he receives the entire payment for the show in advance. His personal assistant says that they allow for different forms of receipt, including a note in their formal letterhead.
   Kumar mentions that he can accept cash as well as check.
   This part of the footage is interpreted as Kumar accepting black money. However in the actual raw footage, this sentence is followed by a critical point – he says that cash or check, we will pay income tax on it.This statement has been deleted in the edited footageThe personal assistant in raw footage also notes that Kumar has always maintained clean accounts, even during a time when he hardly had any income. 
   Kumar does ask for Business Class tickets and a hotel suite at any point in the footage.( See Raw Footage)
   Manoj Kumar(Kondli)
3. Edited footage : He was ready to support the efforts for getting possession of property (which the reporter claims to have given advance for) in return for getting unaccounted for donations; that they would send his people to support the reporter to get access to his property.
   
   Raw Footage:
    Reporter presents his grievance and says that the cash advance he gave for a flat is stuck and needs help in getting possession of the flat. Even before any money is offered, Manoj(candidate) says that we are with you once we are elected; we will stand by you and help you. 
    When support is first offered, candidate says that he can’t go with reporter right now.
    Candidate says the same thing before and after the offer.
   As raw footage shows candidate is trying to walk out of this conversation.
    eandidate clearly says, ‘Property possession can be gained honestly. I have earned my money with a lot of honesty. Everyone knows me in Phase 3. I will earn a little less money, but am happy in that. Even as a property dealer, I have earned far less than all other property dealers.’ (See raw footage)

Similar contradictions were observed in string of other candidates
(Click here to see more )

Aam Aadmi Party filed a criminal defamation complaint in Delhi court against CEO of Media Sarkar for releasing a “doctored” video .Court fixed January 25 as the date for considering this plea.

Arvind Kejriwal also claimed that Rs1,400 crore were distributed to some media houses to defame the party. 

Editor's View: Its true that many important statements have been omitted from the actual footage of the string.And the purpose for doing so is clear, elections are on the other side of the road!

 Decide yourself by watching the raw footage (links given above) . 

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2013/delhi-assembly-elections/AAP-gives-members-caught-in-sting-operation-clean-chit/articleshow/26331387.cms
http://zeenews.india.com/assembly-elections-2013/delhi-polls/no-clean-chit-to-aap-in-sting-operation-says-election-commission_892743.html
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/sting-operation-row-court-to-consider-aaps-plea-on-25-january-1253385.html
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-after-sting-operation-arvind-kejriwal-says-rs1400-crore-distributed-in-media-to-defame-aam-aadmi-party-1924400

Centre to probe foreign funding for Aam Aadmi Party

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde Yesterday (November,11,2013) said that his ministry is probing the source of foreign funding received by the party in response to a Public Interest Litigation or PIL filed at Delhi High Court last month,
|Wow! its amazing that parties like congress and bjp who doesn't have the clarity on sources of even their domestic funding are screened from such probes.
But a party like AAP which is presently the only party which keeps record of its donation and keeps it transparent by updating it on its website(click here to visit it) is alleged and probed that easily.| 

AAP's Response

• AAP confidently challenged both the Congress and the BJP to prove them guilty. 
• AAP, however also demanded a probe on how Congress got funds worth Rs. 2000 crore and a probe on BJP's funding as well.
• The AAP alleges that it is being targeted as opinion polls have predicted better prospects for the first-timers than earlier believed. 

It is interesting to note that in August this year Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) filed an affidavit before the Delhi High Court alleging that the Congress and the BJP have for years been receiving donations to the tune of tens of crores from foreign companies through their Indian subsidiaries.|So Mr Shinde where is your probe in response this affidavit?| 

Source:http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/assembly-polls/delhi-polls-centre-to-probe-foreign-funding-for-arvind-kejriwal-s-aam-aadmi-party-444703

Arvind gets death threats but refuses security cover

On Oct,23,2013

Ghaziabad police had got a letter from Home Ministry citing a threat to Arvind Kejrival's life and asking Ghaziabad police to provide security for him at his residence and party office.
Upon the direction of Home Ministry, some officials of the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) of Ghaziabad police  contacted Arvind and asked him to opt for the security cover.

However Arvind refused to accept security cover for himself by Uttar Pradesh police saying it was against the ideology of their party.
He said "when the safety of crores of citizens was at stake, how can a leader think of taking it"

AAP's ideology
AAP has pledged that, if elected, none of its MLAs, even if one of them were to become Chief Minister, would take red beacon cars, bungalows or security cover.

Interestingly, when contacted Home Ministry officials, however, said there was no move to provide security to Kejriwal.

The officials said that although a periodic review of threat levels to public persons is carried out by the ministry, there was no such move as of now.

Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/arvind-kejriwal-death-threat-refuses-security-delhi-elections/1/319901.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/home-ministry-cites-threat-to-arvind-kejriwals-life-he-refuses-security-by-ghaziabad-police/430177-3-242.html

ANTI-AAP Phone calls

Just a day after the Election Commission announced the poll dates for Delhi (, 4th december 2013.) a recorded phone call against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP is being witnessed.

A Caller named Sri Om claims to be from no party and says that he used to work with India Against Corruption when Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal led the campaign together. 

He alleges that Kejriwal betrayed Anna by colluding with the Congress which helped him make his own political party with their backing and that therefore one should not vote for him.

Call comes from the number 0091 1409 711 885, which is not a dial back number.


This is what the caller says,
"Hi, I'm Sri Om. I used to work with India Against Corruption when Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal led the campaign. But Arvind Kejriwal colluded with the Congress and made his own political party with their backing. Arvind Kejriwal betrayed Anna. A person who can betray his own men can betray anyone. I therefore, request you not to vote for Kejriwal in the coming"

Editor's View: This call clarifies that some sort of intense planning is being done in order to demoralize the all the AAP's efforts towards Delhi elections.
It also proves that 'someone' is afraid of increasing popularity of AAP in Delhi.
And by 'someone' I surely mean some political party........
JLBC request the voters of Delhi to ignore this stupid call, only purpose of which is to divert the attention of votes from the actual perspective.

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/is-there-a-hidden-campaign-against-or-er-for-arvind-kejriwal/426559-80-258.html

AAP members meet president to oppose ordinance on convicted politicians

Background

|Earlier cabinet cleared an ordinance that protected the convicted politicians. As clear this ordinance is not only against the public opinion but also exactly contradicts from the Supreme Court's judgement of immediate disqualification of lawmakers convicted for a criminal offence punishable with a jail term of more than two years.|

Today (27,Sept,2013) Aam Aadmi Party delegation comprising of 5 members -- Arvind Kejriwal, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh met met President Pranab Mukherjee and asked him to sent ordinance back to the government for reconsideration.

AAP's stand on ordinance is as follows

• Supreme Court has struck down a section of Representation of People's Act terming it unconstitutional, then how the government can bring the same section through an Ordinance.
•  If the section is unconstitutional then the Ordinance itself has become unconstitutional
• Ordinances were supposed to be emergency measures only.
• There is discontentment among the people over government's attempt to save tainted MPs and MLAs and the President should not give his assent.

Asked what would be there next course of action if the President gives his assent to the Ordinance, Kejriwal said, "We will challenge it in the Supreme Court".

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aam-aadmi-party-asks-president-pranab-mukherjee-to-refer-back-the-ordinance-to-government/1175150/

http://news.oneindia.in/india/aap-members-meet-president-oppose-ordinance-1313878.html

Supreme Court ordered EC to bring Right to Reject(RTR)

Supreme Court (SC) today gave a landmark order to Election Commission (EC) to provide a ‘none of the above’ option in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to allow voters to reject all candidates contesting an election in a constituency.

The court upheld the argument of petitioner, the People's Union for Civil Liberties, an NGO, that a voter has the right to record disapproval of all candidates listed.
Election commission sources said this will be done starting with the next set of assembly elections this year.This means voters in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram - where Assembly elections are due in November - will have the right to reject option.


The apex court thinks this order will “lead to systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates.” The court also thinks this will ensure that people get “good governance”.

Bench that gave the order was headed by Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam.

 According to SC negative voting via RTR  would lead to systemic change in elections and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates.
Justice Sathasivam said, "Democracy is all about choices and voters will be empowered by this right of negative voting. Negative voting will send a clear signal to political parties and candidates as to what the voters think about them." 


DEBATE on the Matter
Right to Reject is still matter of intense debate as will be clear by following points.

• Election Commission had supported this stand. It had recommended that the government amend rules to include this, but that had not been done. 
•  Centre(Government) had opposed the proposal. It contended that an election is meant to elect and not to reject. It also argued that including a rejection button will confuse voters and will not serve any purpose.
• Activists have proposed that if more than 50 per cent of those who vote reject all candidates, there should be a re-election in that constituency.
• The BJP had asked for a detailed debate.
  The Left had sought clarity on what purpose it hoped to serve.
  The AAM ADMI PARTY SUPPORTS RIGHT TO REJECT
• Anna Hazare had campaigned extensively for poll reforms that would include both the right to reject and the right to recall an elected representative if the electorate is dissatisfied with his or her performance.

Source:http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/supreme-court-gives-voters-right-to-reject-all-candidates-in-a-poll-424424

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/randomaccess/entry/right-to-reject-sc-gives-voters-easy-and-effective-option

Arvind Kejriwal takes the metro ride to reach out to people

Arvind Kejrival today (Sept, 10,2013) at  8.30 in the morning with Manish Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas and a bunch of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activists  arrived at the crowded Kaushambi metro station.
They were heading for their office in central Delhi.

 As many looked on, Kejriwal was flooded with requests to pose for photos. “Hundred votes for each photo,” he quipped and began handing out his business cards to them. “We don’t have money, so we are asking each commuter to take responsibility for 100 votes,”

The whole team boarded the rear coach as the train arrived. In the train  Kejriwal, Sisodia and Vishwas fanned out in the crowd of commuters and started approaching people. “Please vote for AAP this election. Please cast your vote for an honest party,”

However it doesn't means that the AAP metro squad didn't faced any questions in the train,   Charu Kant, a banker with State Bank of Hyderabad, asked him: “Why should we trust AAP? We have had such bad experience with other parties?”Vishwas replyed to him that “When we are in power, there would be Anna Hazare’s Lokayukta within one month. If that does not happen, you can seek our resignation.”
Shaking hands, posing for photos and distributing cards, the AAP team moved from the last coach towards the train front.Apart from Kejriwal, Sisodia, Vishwas and scores of party volunteers too travel by Delhi Metro daily and on their way try to convince commuters to vote for their party.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/DelhiElections2013/Delhi-polls-Kejriwal-takes-the-metro-to-reach-out-to-people/Article1-1119817.aspx

Mahabharat's Bheem Praveen Kumar joins AAP

On 8th September(2013)  Praveen Kumar who famously portrayed the character of Bheem in B R Chopra's TV series Mahabharat joined AAM ADMI PARTY. Praveen Kumar is also a two times Asian games gold medalist.At the public meeting held in Sonia Vihar, where Praveen was inducted into the party, nearly every single speech had references to the Mahabharata.
"It is a role that I have a great fondness for. It gave me fame. If the Mahabharata taught me anything, it was that leaders must serve their people. This is what the Aam Aadmi Party stands for, and which is why I have joined it," Praveen said.

According to internal party sources Praveen was being considered as the party's candidate for the Wazirpur constituency.
"He has filed an application with the party for the candidate's post. It is likely that he will be declared the candidate, as he lives in the area, and has clean credentials," a member said.


Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bheem-joins-aap-ranks-ahead-of-november-battle/1166526/2

AAP's huge rally in yavatmal

Short posts

Aam Admi Party (Maharashtra) on 30th August 2013  did a huge rally in Yavatmal.

At the rally they talked about Swaraj, local governance and how does Aam Aadmi Party aim to achieve it.

Thousands of people gathered in support of AAP

Source:https://twitter.com/aap_103/status/373491239267487745

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=404752932957806&set=pb.290805814352519.-2207520000.1377961304.&type=3&theater

Arvind's speech at St.Stephen's College :Complete Report

Click here to see the speech video(DO SEE!)
On August 23rd (2013) Arvind Kejrival addressed the students of  St.Stephen's College(Delhi).
Purpose of the speech("Role of Youth in Democracy") was to motivate the youth to join politics
He addressed that dirty politics is the root of our problems and to bring about changes, the youth would have to be the change. 
Arvind began with describing how politics which was an auspicious deed at the time of independence is now considered to be a dark profession with anti-social activities in it.
Arvind also questioned the present form of representative democracy and supported direct involvement of citizens in decision making process. He gave an example of US where  where people make laws in Town Hall meetings, and mayors and bureaucrats then implement the law,
He said if AAP wins then it will formulate a law having provision for such direct involvement of citizens in politics via Town Hall meetings.

Debate with youth
Arvind also responded to the audience's questions which were in fact FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions ) about Aam Admi Party like

1.  "What if you win some seats but they are not enough to form a government — will you form a coalition with the Congress or the BJP?"
   ANS: AAP would not collaborate with either of the two parties, Kejriwal said,
   "We will not lend support to either party. Even if we get 20 seats, it would mean that the other two parties will also not be able to form a government. We've reached a stage where without us, a government cannot be formed."
2.  Why the party was fielding people without any political experience
   ANS:They are not looking for political experts but those who are sensitive to the needs of others. "We are promising candidates who have no criminal record and if proof of their corruption is brought to us even a day before the elections, we promise to withdraw their names,"
3. When Arvind talked about 'vote bank' politics, a student asked
   Weather AAP was not doing the same by writing a letter to Muslims?
   ANS:"I have been interacting with various sections — jhuggi-jhopri dwellers, auto drivers, and members of Valmiki Samaj. I have written to them too. There are problems specific to certain communities."said Arvind

This interaction with youth can be considered a success as after the speech 61 Stephanians joined AAP. AAP already has 70% of youth candidates.

Editor's View: Such interactive meets with the youth of nation and AAP's desire for young minds as its candidates is really appreciated. But wait for a moment, when BJP's Modi gave speech at  B.schools(Business school)  and  big colleges, media gave it a sugary and gummy attention
Also when Congress's Rahul Gandhi interacts with youth then it is also covered by media without any if and buts.
 But when AAP's Arvind Kejrival  meets with youth St.Stephen's College or at Also when Congress's Rahul Gandhi interacts with youth then it is also covered by media without any if and buts. But when AAP's Arvind Kejrival  meets with youth St.Stephen's College or at Wharton(B.School)(click here to know more about Wharton meet) then switches to its HUSH-HUSH mode.This is so patheticClick here to see the speech video(DO SEE!)

 Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/arvind-kejriwal-to-stephen-s-students-participate-in-politics-to-bring-change/1159316/
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-24/delhi/41442854_1_arvind-kejriwal-the-aam-aadmi-party-aap
 

AAP volunteer beaten up for protecting a girl form being molested

On the evening of Rakhi, an AAP volunteer Sunder saw a drunk man trying to force himself into an auto in which a girl was traveling.The girl was trying to resist this act. 
The volunteer and his brother tried to help the girl and interfered but were beaten up by the drunk man and three of his friends. Sunder suffered minor injuries with some bruises and a red eye. He was punched on the face repeatedly by those men.However, later men ran away after the scuffle and the girl went safely to her home.

What Sunder did is really appreciable, if he would not have interfered it would have been another Damani case on the night of Rakha Bandhan...Keep it up!
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=401555429944223&set=a.300369023396198.53817.290805814352519&type=1&relevant_count=1

AAP's Candidate selection procedure: A thing you must know

1. 100 voters of any assembly constituency can come together and propose the name of a person they wish to be the candidate for their constituency. Also, a prospective candidate himself, with the approval of the 100 voters from his constituency, may propose his name. A particular voter may propose the name of a single candidate only.

2. Application forms can be downloaded online or can be obtained from any of our party offices.

3. After filling in all details asked for in the application form, one can deposit it at the party head quarters with Mr. Dilip Pandey, Secretary, Selection Committee (Address: A -119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad). This can be done on any day after the 15th of April 2013, between 10am and 5pm (except for Sundays). Any correspondence regarding the candidate selection process will happend from this same office.

4. A screening committee has been created by the party to work on this process. Members of this screening committee are -

1. Manish Sisodia

2. Sanjay Singh

3. Vinod Kumar Binny

4. Rajan Prakash

5. Dilip K Pandey

6. Nisha Singh

7. Ashish Talwar

8. Kishore Asthana

9. BS Dhanola

10. Rahul Mehra

11. Abhay Singh

12. Vinay Mittal

5. After the 5th of May, the screening committee will start the process of putting together a short list of a maximum of 5 candidates from eacy constituency, from among all the applications received. For the purpose of creating such a short list, the screening committee will have one-on-one interactions with all the applicants and will also take inputs from various sources such as - active volunteers, journalists, reputated citizens and more. The decision of the screening committee will be final in shortlisting candidates. Ater releasing a shortlist, candidate applications will not be received for that particular constituency.

6. The above shortlist will be promoted in the public domain by various means such as - releasing it online, campaign by party workers and other media, and opinion on the candidates will be sought from active party volunteers and the public at large. Everybody will be allowed to share their views, good or bad, about any candidate, and would also be invited to submit proof of any wrong-doings by the shortlisted candidates. Such submissions can be made online or sent directly to the party office. There would be a window of 15 days set apart for this.

7. The screening committee will take congnisance of every information/opinion that is shared, and on receiving evidence-backed negative information about a candidate, strike out the name of such candidates and release an updated shortlist.

8. Aam Aadmi Party is a recently formed political outfit. There are many people who have now participated and contributed for a long time as volunteers in this movement, but have not been formally enrolled as party members. All such volunteers will be indentified/declared as 'active volunteers' and their opinion will be sought on the shortlist of candidates.

Post this, such 'active volunteers' would gather together at constituency level meetings and would rank the candidates by means of preferential voting. This process would be carried out by a secret ballot, the results of which would be made available to the political affairs committee. At the moment, the number of active volunteers at each constituency is not significantly large. For this reason, we do not plan to release the outcome of the preferential ranking vote and rather only submit it to the political affairs committee as an input.

9. Next, the political affairs committee will have one-on-one interaction with each of the shortlisted candidates.

10. Preferential voting by active volunteers will bring forward the popularity of candidates. While personal interaction with the screening and political committee will be used to determine if the candidate is - courageous, has a vision for bringing in systemic change in Delhi, understands all aspects and nuances of direct democracy (swaraj), has learned opinions on broad range of issues, has respect for every caste and religion etc. Considering the popularity of all candidates, their thoughts on various issues and opinion held by the public at large about them - the political affairs committee will take the decision on who would be the candidate from a particular constituency.

Editor's View: When compared to other present political parties like BJP,Congress etc who do their Candidate Selection in closed shady environments on the basis of money and GUNDA power, AAP's selection procedure is much more democratic and transparent.In fact it is presently the most ideal political selection procedure and is another reason for which voting AAP this time can be considered to be a good deal...
  

Source:http://delhi.aamaadmiparty.org/news/candidate-selection-process-delhi-elections-2013-english-version