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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  AAP plans a revamp as debacle, differences fuel introspection
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AAP plans a revamp as debacle, differences fuel introspection

With elections to Delhi assembly likely soon, the party may not have enough time for an overhaul, say analysts

At a press conference, flanked by top AAP leaders, Kejriwal said having differences in a ‘democratic’ party was quite normal and hoped that AAP will grow stronger. Photo: PTIPremium
At a press conference, flanked by top AAP leaders, Kejriwal said having differences in a ‘democratic’ party was quite normal and hoped that AAP will grow stronger. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: After the debacle in elections and the disquiet in its ranks, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday vowed to reorganize and turn battle-ready in a one-year plan.

“In the last one year, lakhs of people have joined the party. It’s now time to reorganize," said AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who has faced severe criticism from within the party. “We are starting Mission Vistaar (expansion), in which we will reorganize the party from the booth level to the national level in a year. We will tell people about our thoughts, connect with them and bring them together through a strong organization," Kejriwal told reporters at the end of the AAP’s three-day national executive meeting.

A panel headed by the AAP’s Karnataka state coordinator, Prithvi Reddy, and including leaders like Anjali Damania, Atishi Marlena, Sanjay Singh and Krishnakant Sevada, will supervise the restructuring.

“The committee will enlist 150-200 observers from across the country, who will be sent to all states. The entire organization at the state, district, national council and national executive level will be reorganized," Kejriwal said.

The national council, which is AAP’s highest policymaking body, the national executive—the highest executive body—and the political affairs committee are expected to be revamped at the end of the exercise.

The party has added 25 new special invitees to its national executive including Lok Sabha contestants Gul Panag, Ashish Khetan, Ashutosh, Muzaffar Bhatt, Parveen Amanullah, elected lawmakers Bhagwant Mann and Harinder Singh Khalsa and several activists.

However, with elections to the Delhi state assembly expected soon, the party may not have enough time to overhaul itself or implement the decisions.

“The problem is that the AAP has no time. Elections are staring at them, which leaves them with no time at hand to restructure the party organization at the national level," said Abhay Kumar Dubey, a New Delhi-based political analyst. “These are mainly election-oriented decisions, but they do not make a case for internal democracy. The party needs internal democracy, but the right time to start any new process should be only after the Delhi elections."

Shazia Ilmi, journalist-turned-politician and a founder member of the party, quit AAP in May, saying the party was run by a “handful of people" and citing its failure to implement internal democracy.

Later, senior leader and strategist Yogendra Yadav quit AAP’s political affairs committee, accusing the party of “falling prey to personality cult". An exchange of letters between Yadav and party leader Manish Sisodia became public last week, where the alleged rift in the party came out in the open.

On Sunday, however, Kejriwal sought to present a united face for the party. “Everything has been sorted out. The whole family is together. Ours is a new party. Things like this coming up in a democratic way is good," Kejriwal said.

In reply to a question on whether the meeting discussed the reasons for winning seats less than their expectations, Kejriwal said: “I personally think what you are presenting as defeat was an unprecedented victory for our party."

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Published: 08 Jun 2014, 08:56 PM IST
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