Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, the ousted founders of the Aam Aadmi Party, who had recently announced plans to launch their political party, are likely to contest the Punjab Assembly elections and Delhi municipal elections to be held next year.
The party, which is likely to be named “Swaraj Party”, would be formally launched by 2 October this year. According to sources, the groundwork has been underway in several states since the past one year and after much deliberation, the decision to launch the political party was taken.
Yadav and Bhushan had launched the Swaraj Abhiyan as a socio-political movement in April 2015 soon after they were ousted by the AAP. With the decision to launch their political party, strong organisational structures have been put in place in seven states and about 100 districts and the aim is to transform “Swaraj” into reality.
Anupam, official spokesperson of the Swaraj Abhiyan, told The Sunday Guardian, “When we have decided to form a political party, we would definitely contest the elections. Being a part of the anti-corruption movement, corruption would be one of our main issues, while farmers’ welfare, education, unemployment and communal harmony would also be our focus.”
“Our team is working on drafting the party’s constitution and we also believe in inner-party democracy — the voice of all party workers matters,” Anupam said.
While in Punjab, the to-be-named party would work on exposing the alleged “corruption” and “ill-practices” of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), in Delhi, it would expose the alleged “misgovernance” of the AAP.
Anupam lashed out at the AAP for not standing by the principles on which it was formed. He also called the Centre-state tussle that has been playing out in Delhi a “manufactured confrontation” with the Centre.
Anupam said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has made “being in the headlines” a part of his strategy, for which he attacks the Prime Minister on every issue.
Anupam said that in Punjab, the AAP is not an alternative as they are similar to the Badals, and the party considers the SAD as its main opposition. Asked whether they would opt for an alliance with any party in Punjab, Anupam said, “We have not deliberated on that at the moment.”