AAP looking to rebuild its base in Uttarakahnd
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which did not contest the assembly elections in Uttarakhand despite an initial hype, is now planning to restructure the party and expand its base in the hill state.
The AAP will strengthen its organizational set up in the state by “reuniting” grassroots workers, many of whom were disillusioned with the party’s decision not to contest the assembly polls, said AAP state secretary Rajesh Bahuguna.
The drive will start from May 20 and will be complete in two months, he said.
“Our first strategy would be to bring back and reunite under the AAP banner those party workers who had either become disillusioned with AAP (following the party’s decision to not contest assembly polls) and those who are not active anymore,” he said.
“Apart from winning back the (old) party workers, we are also going to launch a membership drive to add new members,” he said.
“The drive will be held under the supervision of two observers in each of the 70 assembly constituencies and will be followed by the party’s internal elections.”
Following the drubbing in Punjab and Goa assembly polls, party leaders feel they could have cashed in on the initial “ground support” the AAP was receiving in the state had it focused on contesting assembly elections here.
Party sources said that during a meeting in Delhi last month, the AAP central leadership accepted that the party should have contested the assembly polls in Uttarakhand.
“We gained a sizeable momentum in Uttarakhand last year and had we contested polls, we would’ve been in a much stronger position and might have had some sitting MLAs too,” Bahuguna said, adding that the current turmoil within the party in Delhi was affecting the morale of the party workers here.
The AAP had waged an active campaign against the BJP and the Congress in Uttarakhand by holding a series of “Save Uttarakhand” rallies last year. The AAP’s leadership, however, decided not to contest the polls in Uttarakhand that disappointed large number party workers, prompting many to leave the organisation.