Eye on LS polls, AAP to launch donation drive

NEW DELHI:

The Aam Aadmi Party will launch a campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls next month onwards, before the model code of conduct comes into force around March. The party on Saturday said it has decided to launch a mega door-to-door campaign seeking donations across the country, with special focus on Delhi. In a meeting chaired by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, the party planned to launch the nationwide donation campaign from

October 14 onwards starting from Delhi.

The Congress may be going all out to target the Narendra Modi government on the Rafale aircraft deal, but its women’s wing wants the party to turn its attention also to “the rising public anger” over increasing prices in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The grand old party has decided to launch a countrywide campaign, Mahila Adhikar Yatra, to “spur the suppressed anger” among women – they constitute nearly half of India’s 1.3 billion population -- over the price rise and women’s safety.

All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev had flagged these issues at a recent meeting with senior party leaders. “Price rise and women’s safety will remain the key issues for the women of this country. They are more concerned about these issues than anything else,” Dev said.

“Price rise is connected to their kitchens. During my campaign, I have come across female voters who talk about the small but basic things of life,” she added.

Dev said skyrocketing petrol and diesel prices “are burning a hole in the pockets of the people who will express their angst by voting against the government in the upcoming elections.”

NEW DELHI: