The Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in Bangalore is a scene of
bustling activity. Nestled in a narrow dusty lane, a few steps away from the
Cottonpet police station in central Bangalore, the head office sees at least
300-500 visitors every day, some curious and others hungry for change. Enthused
by Arvind Kejriwal's victory in Delhi, Bangaloreans are attending AAP meetings
across the city and signing up in droves to join the party. "Anybody is
better than the people we have had so far.
The rise of AAP has put an end to the belief that we have
only BJP and Congress to vote for," said Nitya Rao, a 31-year-old
freelance photographer who attended an AAP event in the posh Koramangala area
last week. She said she would sign up as member and volunteer for the party. V
Balakrishnan, former board member at Infosys, and GR Gopinath, founder of the
erstwhile Air Deccan, have been the two recent high-profile AAP inductees.
"Going by the evidence of hundreds and thousands of
people rushing to join the party, Bangalore will send a few AAP candidates to
parliament," says Gopinath, who has offered time and support to the party,
not revealing if he was going to contest himself.
Prithvi Reddy, one of the founding members of AAP and a part of the national executive, said Balakrishnan was helping them with the information technology infrastructure, building the organization and raising funds. The former Infosys executive has told Reddy that he has not yet given any thought about contesting the Lok Sabha election.
Online registrations have exceeded 50,000 in Karnataka, with over half of them joining post the Delhi election. Offline memberships are yet to be tabulated. "It is one of the states with the largest membership base," said Siddharth Sharma, a former journalist and convener of AAP Karnataka. Although the exact number of members for Bangalore is yet to be tabulated , at least 1,000-1,500 people become members every day in the city, the party said.
Mass Campaign
A typical day at the borrowed office space in Bangalore, located on the third floor of a nondescript building, sees party workers coordinating over the phone with volunteers across Karnataka.
Prithvi Reddy, one of the founding members of AAP and a part of the national executive, said Balakrishnan was helping them with the information technology infrastructure, building the organization and raising funds. The former Infosys executive has told Reddy that he has not yet given any thought about contesting the Lok Sabha election.
Online registrations have exceeded 50,000 in Karnataka, with over half of them joining post the Delhi election. Offline memberships are yet to be tabulated. "It is one of the states with the largest membership base," said Siddharth Sharma, a former journalist and convener of AAP Karnataka. Although the exact number of members for Bangalore is yet to be tabulated , at least 1,000-1,500 people become members every day in the city, the party said.
Mass Campaign
A typical day at the borrowed office space in Bangalore, located on the third floor of a nondescript building, sees party workers coordinating over the phone with volunteers across Karnataka.
"We ordered 48,000 caps a week ago. Just about 5,000
are left. We've ordered 1 lakh more," said Manjunath K, a software professional
who handles logistics for AAP in Karnataka, and finds campaigning much easier
post the election in Delhi. Manjunath plays AAP ambassador by travelling on
different routes in the most crowded public buses, with the AAP cap firmly
fixed on his head.
"I don't even have to talk. I simply stand on the
footboard," said the full-time volunteer. He says the cap triggers a
debate about AAP, its feasibility of being successful in Karnataka and by the
end of the journey, about a dozen passengers become members. The Bangalore team
has appointed representatives across all its 27 constituencies and most of them
have active Facebook pages. Their profiles range from ex-military professionals
to software professionals and MBA graduates. Door-todoor campaigning would
start next week.
Volunteers in the city, about 12,000 of them, visit parks in the mornings and evenings. Membership drives have been conducted in several areas of the city. On a busy Sunday afternoon, Pavan Hegde, a 23-year-old worker at Cafe Coffee Day, marched into the crowded Maiyya's restaurant in Jayanagar along with other volunteers, and walked out with 185 new members in the next hour.
Volunteers in the city, about 12,000 of them, visit parks in the mornings and evenings. Membership drives have been conducted in several areas of the city. On a busy Sunday afternoon, Pavan Hegde, a 23-year-old worker at Cafe Coffee Day, marched into the crowded Maiyya's restaurant in Jayanagar along with other volunteers, and walked out with 185 new members in the next hour.
The city played a major role in the Delhi election, said
Chandrakant KN, treasurer of AAP Karnataka. The state's contribution of Rs 4
crore, from 70,000 donors, was second only to Delhi.
"And the bulk of it came from Bangalore," said the former general manager of State Bank of India. Additionally, a 15-member team from Bangalore single-handedly managed the task of ensuring 16 lakh registered members of Delhi cast their votes, according to Chandrakant, who said fundraising for Lok Sabha
"And the bulk of it came from Bangalore," said the former general manager of State Bank of India. Additionally, a 15-member team from Bangalore single-handedly managed the task of ensuring 16 lakh registered members of Delhi cast their votes, according to Chandrakant, who said fundraising for Lok Sabha
elections from Karnataka is yet to formally start. According
to the information on its website, the party had a balance of Rs 3,65,586 as of
November.
Ranks Keep Swelling
But the party is not without its problems. "The biggest challenge is to keep up with the jump in memberships, given the long procedure we currently have," said Chandrakant. To cope with steadily increasing demand across the nation, the party is expected to scrap the `10 membership fee.
Ranks Keep Swelling
But the party is not without its problems. "The biggest challenge is to keep up with the jump in memberships, given the long procedure we currently have," said Chandrakant. To cope with steadily increasing demand across the nation, the party is expected to scrap the `10 membership fee.
It has rolled out a system of enrolling members through
'missed calls' which will be returned. This will run until January 26.
The party said it is also in need of skilled professionals to help them with publicity, song- and script-writing, acting and graphic designing. Additionally, efforts are being made to connect with the rural parts.
The party said it is also in need of skilled professionals to help them with publicity, song- and script-writing, acting and graphic designing. Additionally, efforts are being made to connect with the rural parts.
"More or less,
people perceive us as an urban-centric party," said convener Sharma.
"We are right now focusing on the rural hinterland; in Bangalore our teams
are already in place." But overall, the consensus is that Bangaloreans
want change. "I am happy to see that AAP has at least rocked the boat. It
has put fear of God in the old parties," said Kanwal Rekhi, an IT
entrepreneur, mentor and managing director of venture capital firm Inventus
Partners.
Source : Economictimes
Source : Economictimes
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