Civic polls: AAP releases first list of 109 candidates
NEWDELHI:The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday announced its first list of 109 candidates for the upcoming municipal elections, dates for which are still to be announced by the Delhi state election commission.
Continuing its strategy of declaring names of candidates well before the announcement of election date, the Political Affairs Committee of the party approved the list, which included names from all the three corporations — 40 for North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), 40 for South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and 29 for East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). The NDMC and SDMC have 104 wards, while EDMC has 64.
Of the 109 seats, 46 are reserved for women but the party has also fielded women candidates on three general seats.
“We have set a new benchmark in Delhi politics by fielding women from general seats and the pattern will be repeated on other seats as well,” said Ashish Talwar, Delhi-in-charge, AAP.
While most of the names announced in Friday are new faces, the party has nominated sitting councillor Ramesh Matiala from Matiala ward, former Congress councillor Sanjay Puri from Janakpuri West,
OF THE 109 SEATS, 46 ARE RESERVED FOR WOMEN, BUT THE PARTY HAS ALSO FIELDED WOMEN CANDIDATES ON THREE GENERAL SEATS
who joined AAP two years back, and Mamata from Holambi Khurd, who contested the last municipal election from Alipur ward. She was defeated by a Congress candidate.
The party has also given tickets to several youngsters including the convener of state youth wing of the party Ankush Narang from west Patel Nagar and Pankaj Gupta from Sangam Vihar (E).
“Of the 109 candidates, 64 are youth,” AAP (Delhi) convener, Dilip Pandey said, adding that the process of screening names for other seats is on.
The party had started the selection process in January, inviting applications from volunteers. The applications were screened by the district and screening committees before the list was put forth for approval before the Political Affairs Committee (PAC).
The 2017 municipal elections will be the first full-fledged civic elections for AAP, which made an impressive debut last year by winning five of 13 municipal seats, where bypolls were held in 2016.