Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has declared that he is ready to take on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi in the Lok Sabha elections, but he will do so only if “the people want” it.
He was addressing a rally here on Sunday, the second day of his tour of the Lok Sabha constituencies in and around Bangalore. It was attended by a large number of supporters, all wearing the AAP’s caps. Mr. Kejriwal said he would gauge the people’s support at a rally the AAP plans to hold in Varanasi on March 23. “I will do whatever the people say.”
“It is not a small contest. I have little aukaad [stature], no money and no people,” he said. “But I would consider myself fortunate to make sacrifices for the nation, as Bhagat Singh did.”
Speaking in Hindi in his trademark style that alternates between sardonic humour and references to himself as the common man, he spared the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate no criticism and spoke of the media’s “propaganda of falsehood” in their portrayal of Mr. Modi’s development model.
“For a year, the media have tried to show that Gujarat has progressed under Modiji. So I decided to see the progress for myself. But what I witnessed in my 10-day visit shocked me. Farmers complain that their land is being grabbed for being handed over to industries for just Re. 1 a metre. Modiji represents the old school crony capitalism,” he said.
“Nothing happens without bribes... But we have to give it to Gujarat for being transparent about corruption — at least bribes have a fixed rate,” he said.
‘Political graveyard’
PTI reports from Patna:
Taunting the decision of the BJP to field its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, RJD president Lalu Prasad on Sunday said it would prove to be a “political graveyard” for Mr. Modi. “What do you think of Varanasi. It’s a completely secular place. Narendra Modi is going to be defeated there. It will prove to be his political graveyard,” Mr. Prasad said.
Hindu
Showing posts with label Arvind Kejriwal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arvind Kejriwal. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Monday, 6 January 2014
AAP to contest LS polls from 20 states
After tasting electoral success in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said it would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls from 20 states, including Uttar Pradesh, where it would field candidates for all 80 seats.
“The national executive of AAP has decided to contest Lok Sabha polls in 20 states including UP, where we would contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats,” AAP National Spokesman Sanjay Singh told reporters in Lucknow.
He said Kumar Vishwas was likely to contest against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, while candidates against prominent leaders like Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Mulayam Singh would be decided soon.
“We will try to finalise names of candidates by February 15 and all those desiring to contest Lok Sabha polls can apply by January 15. However, those applying would have to be recommended by at least 100 persons each from all the assembly constituencies in his or her area,” he said.
The applications would be scrutinised by district and state-level monitoring committees before finalisation of names, Mr. Singh said.
The party, besides declaring its national manifesto, would also make public its manifesto at local levels covering issues pertaining to that area, he said.
Replying to a question, Mr. Singh alleged that leaders like Mr. Mulayam Singh, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, Mr. Farooq Abdullah, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, Ms. Mayawati and others called themselves secular despite the fact that they were with BJP in the past.
“Now, they are with Congress and labelling themselves as secular,” he said.
He said AAP was in favour of diverting development funds of MPs and legislators to mohalla and gram sabhas so that people could decide where public money is to be spent.
On January 12, the party would hold ‘Jan Vishwas’ rally in Amethi.
Accepting that religion and caste politics were challenges in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Singh said his party would concentrate on local issues and try to divert attention of the people from caste and religion.
Asked about ways to deal with caste politics prevailing in the state, Mr. Singh said the mindset of the people was changing fast as was apparent in Delhi elections.
“The national executive of AAP has decided to contest Lok Sabha polls in 20 states including UP, where we would contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats,” AAP National Spokesman Sanjay Singh told reporters in Lucknow.
He said Kumar Vishwas was likely to contest against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, while candidates against prominent leaders like Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Mulayam Singh would be decided soon.
“We will try to finalise names of candidates by February 15 and all those desiring to contest Lok Sabha polls can apply by January 15. However, those applying would have to be recommended by at least 100 persons each from all the assembly constituencies in his or her area,” he said.
The applications would be scrutinised by district and state-level monitoring committees before finalisation of names, Mr. Singh said.
The party, besides declaring its national manifesto, would also make public its manifesto at local levels covering issues pertaining to that area, he said.
Replying to a question, Mr. Singh alleged that leaders like Mr. Mulayam Singh, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, Mr. Farooq Abdullah, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, Ms. Mayawati and others called themselves secular despite the fact that they were with BJP in the past.
“Now, they are with Congress and labelling themselves as secular,” he said.
He said AAP was in favour of diverting development funds of MPs and legislators to mohalla and gram sabhas so that people could decide where public money is to be spent.
On January 12, the party would hold ‘Jan Vishwas’ rally in Amethi.
Accepting that religion and caste politics were challenges in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Singh said his party would concentrate on local issues and try to divert attention of the people from caste and religion.
Asked about ways to deal with caste politics prevailing in the state, Mr. Singh said the mindset of the people was changing fast as was apparent in Delhi elections.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
AAP gets into LS polls mode, to contest in 15 to 20 States
The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday declared its intention of contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections by throwing open its primary membership to all citizens for free. A countrywide decentralised membership drive — “main bhi aam aadmi” (I too am a commoner) — will be held from January 10 to 26.
AAP leader Yogendra Yadav made the announcement at the end of a two-day national executive meeting here. He said the party decided to contest all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, and the Assembly and Parliamentary seats in Haryana.
The AAP will also put up candidates in some seats in Tamil Nadu, and most Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in Maharashtra.
Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will spearhead the party’s election campaign. Mr. Kejriwal has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha elections, but will campaign “vigorously” for the party.
3 lakh people join in Maharashtra
Among party leaders tipped to contest elections are: Yogendra Yadav from Haryana, Mayank Gandhi and Anjali Damania from Maharashtra, and Sanjay Singh and Kumar Vishwas from Uttar Pradesh. In Maharashtra alone, more than 3 lakh people have joined the party, which has opened offices in 34 districts. The party units in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have also indicated their readiness to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Although the final picture will emerge only by February-end, based on the preparations on the ground so far, the party plans to contest “at least 250 to 300 seats in 15 to 20 States.” “We are testing the waters on how far we can go,” said Mr. Yadav.
He said that declaring a prime ministerial candidate “presupposes” where the party would land in the general election. “Unless we assess where we stand, it is not correct to declare a prime ministerial candidate.”
The first list of candidates will be made public between January 15 and 20. All selected candidates will go through public scrutiny in the run-up to the final selection by the Political Affairs Committee. “After a candidate for a particular constituency is finalised, no more applications for that seat will be considered,” he said. The last date for applying is January 15.
A three-member national election coordination committee will take care of candidates’ selection, preparing the party manifesto, fund-raising and other aspects of the election. The party manifesto will be based on internal reports by 31 panels formed during the Delhi elections.
No membership fee
Executive Committee member Gopal Rai said the party was running out of membership receipt books and, therefore, opened the countrywide membership drive without any fee. The situation would be reviewed after January 26. A membership fee of Rs.10 has been scrapped.
Election panel member Pankaj Gupta said the candidate selection committee in the States would have five members, including a non-AAP member for “objective scrutiny.”
The panel members, however, admitted that the party needed more funds to contest the general election. “We fought the Delhi elections with Rs.20 crore. But more funds will be needed for the Lok Sabha polls.’’
The leaders said they were aware of other parties sending their cadre for “proxy membership”. They issued a “zero tolerance” warning to members against indulging in indiscipline or any anti-social activity that would bring the AAP into disrepute. “Such a member will be disowned.”
AAP leader Yogendra Yadav made the announcement at the end of a two-day national executive meeting here. He said the party decided to contest all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, and the Assembly and Parliamentary seats in Haryana.
The AAP will also put up candidates in some seats in Tamil Nadu, and most Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in Maharashtra.
Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will spearhead the party’s election campaign. Mr. Kejriwal has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha elections, but will campaign “vigorously” for the party.
3 lakh people join in Maharashtra
Among party leaders tipped to contest elections are: Yogendra Yadav from Haryana, Mayank Gandhi and Anjali Damania from Maharashtra, and Sanjay Singh and Kumar Vishwas from Uttar Pradesh. In Maharashtra alone, more than 3 lakh people have joined the party, which has opened offices in 34 districts. The party units in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have also indicated their readiness to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Although the final picture will emerge only by February-end, based on the preparations on the ground so far, the party plans to contest “at least 250 to 300 seats in 15 to 20 States.” “We are testing the waters on how far we can go,” said Mr. Yadav.
He said that declaring a prime ministerial candidate “presupposes” where the party would land in the general election. “Unless we assess where we stand, it is not correct to declare a prime ministerial candidate.”
The first list of candidates will be made public between January 15 and 20. All selected candidates will go through public scrutiny in the run-up to the final selection by the Political Affairs Committee. “After a candidate for a particular constituency is finalised, no more applications for that seat will be considered,” he said. The last date for applying is January 15.
A three-member national election coordination committee will take care of candidates’ selection, preparing the party manifesto, fund-raising and other aspects of the election. The party manifesto will be based on internal reports by 31 panels formed during the Delhi elections.
No membership fee
Executive Committee member Gopal Rai said the party was running out of membership receipt books and, therefore, opened the countrywide membership drive without any fee. The situation would be reviewed after January 26. A membership fee of Rs.10 has been scrapped.
Election panel member Pankaj Gupta said the candidate selection committee in the States would have five members, including a non-AAP member for “objective scrutiny.”
The panel members, however, admitted that the party needed more funds to contest the general election. “We fought the Delhi elections with Rs.20 crore. But more funds will be needed for the Lok Sabha polls.’’
The leaders said they were aware of other parties sending their cadre for “proxy membership”. They issued a “zero tolerance” warning to members against indulging in indiscipline or any anti-social activity that would bring the AAP into disrepute. “Such a member will be disowned.”
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
After security, Arvind Kejriwal says no to CM bungalow
NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal, who will be Delhi's new chief minister, has turned down a government bungalow that comes with his new role.
Kejriwal formally rejected the official accommodation - one of the biggest perks of a government post - when Delhi chief secretary came to him with the offer on Tuesday morning.
The chief secretary of Delhi has reportedly met Kejriwal, to finalize arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony as well as the names of the members of the state cabinet.
Kejriwal has also appointed IAS officer Rajendra Kumar as his principal secretary.
Meanwhile, Pranab Mukherjee has cleared the decks for the appointment of Arvind Kejriwal as the 7th chief minister of Delhi.
According to television reports, President Pranab Mukherjee has forwarded the letter of appointment to a joint secretary level officer of ministry of home affairs.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday had staked claim to form the government in the national capital, and are meeting on Tuesday to finalize the Cabinet.
Kejriwal on Monday refused the high security cover provided by Delhi Police, saying "God is his biggest security.
In his letter to Delhi Police, Kejriwal said "Thank you for offering me security. But as I have already informed earlier, I don't need any security, I don't need any escort or PSO. God is my biggest security."
Kejriwal formally rejected the official accommodation - one of the biggest perks of a government post - when Delhi chief secretary came to him with the offer on Tuesday morning.
The chief secretary of Delhi has reportedly met Kejriwal, to finalize arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony as well as the names of the members of the state cabinet.
Kejriwal has also appointed IAS officer Rajendra Kumar as his principal secretary.
Meanwhile, Pranab Mukherjee has cleared the decks for the appointment of Arvind Kejriwal as the 7th chief minister of Delhi.
According to television reports, President Pranab Mukherjee has forwarded the letter of appointment to a joint secretary level officer of ministry of home affairs.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday had staked claim to form the government in the national capital, and are meeting on Tuesday to finalize the Cabinet.
Kejriwal on Monday refused the high security cover provided by Delhi Police, saying "God is his biggest security.
In his letter to Delhi Police, Kejriwal said "Thank you for offering me security. But as I have already informed earlier, I don't need any security, I don't need any escort or PSO. God is my biggest security."
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