
Did the Swaraj movement launched by expelled Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav make the party so allergic to the word that it is rewriting its party script?

In a swift change on its website, the AAP has quietly deleted the paragraph that mentioned Swaraj.

“Democracy is popular self rule, but the current practice of democracy negates this ideal and reduces the citizens to mere subjects.

"Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) aims to restore power to the people, so as to realise the promise of Swaraj enshrined in our Constitution.”

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with his deputy Manish Sisodia (left). In a swift change on its website, the AAP has quietly deleted the paragraph that mentioned Swaraj

This entire paragraph is now missing from the webpage that enrols members/volunteers for AAP.

Earlier this paragraph was followed by another one: “I am a citizen of India. I am above 18 years of age. I am not a member of any political party. I believe in the objectives and thinking of the party and I am willing to fully participate in achieving the objective of the party.”

The enroller had to check the box besides this text to complete the enrolment procedure.

“They may argue the Swaraj is there in the party’s Constitution. They would like to relegate Swaraj to the confines of the Constitution and not put it to practice,” said Vikrant Karnik, former AAP Thane municipal district convener.

"By removing word Swaraj from the enrolment procedure, AAP wants to indirectly convey to new members that Swaraj is no more a priority for the party."

Predictably, AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai said that Swaraj was part of the Constitution and also of the party’s ideology.

However, he refused to comment specifically on the removal of Swaraj from the online enrolment page.

“I do not know about this. But I could say this that removal of the word Swaraj may not have been done purposely,” said Bajpai.

Idealists who have either quit or are on the verge of leaving the party believe that the AAP has made several tweaks to the party procedure which they think is undemocratic and lacks transparency.

Condemning the dictatorial attitude of the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Maharashtra unit of the AAP, Maruti Bhapkar, one of its founding members, on Monday quit the party along with 376 activists.

Holding a press conference in Pune, Bhapkar declared allegiance to 'Swaraj Abhiyan' launched by the expelled leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav.

Earlier, any aggrieved member could directly approach the Lokpal or Lokayutka if they were not satisfied with the decision of the party secretary on their complaint.

However, the AAP website now mentions that members could send their complaints to the Lokpal/ Lokayukta through the party secretary with no mention that they could also directly approach the Lokpal or Lokayutka in case they are still aggrieved.

“As long as the party Constitution mentions that members could approach Lokpal/Lokayukta, there is no problem that the website does not mention it,” said Bajpai.

Kejriwal's 'blue-eyed boys' get plum political posts

By Rakesh Ranjan

When it comes to favouritism, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is no different from its arch rivals - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

In less than three months of its rule in Delhi, the AAP has already placed almost all its MLAs in key political posts, and is set to induct nearly 200 volunteers to assist them.

The government will also be spending a huge sum on maintenance of their offices and other facilities.

As many as 21 MLAs have been appointed parliamentary secretaries to the chief minister and six other cabinet ministers.

In the Delhi Assembly, the AAP has 67 MLAs, out of which 7 legislatures including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have been inducted in the Cabinet while two legislatures have been appointed the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly.

Of the remaining 58 MLAs, 21 MLAs have been made parliamentary secretaries.

The Delhi government has also placed three of its MLAs in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

While Sisodia has been made the chairman, the AAP MLA Kapil Mishra is the vice-chairman, and another legislator - Sanjeev Jha - has been made a member in the DJB.

In the first session of the Delhi Assembly, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel appointed 8 AAP MLAs as presidents and chairmen of various committees pertaining to the Assembly.

On directions of the Goel, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat has also allocated chambers to these MLAs.

Furthermore, 11 AAP MLAs have been appointed the head of district development committees in each of the 11 revenue districts.

These legislators will be looking after the development plans in respective districts in association with the concerned officials.

In order to improve its presence in the municipal corporations, six MLAs have been appointed in the three municipal corporations while AAP legislator SK Bagga, who defeated BJP’s CM candidate Kiran Bedi, is now a member of the Delhi Development Authority.

Sources said some of the AAP MLAs have been inducted in governing bodies of prominent hospitals.

The government also has plans ready to rope in its volunteers in the Delhi Dialogue Commission.

Under DDC, 21 task forces have been formed. They will be headed by MLAs, who will be further assisted by the volunteers.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Kejriwal has directed all the government officials not to entertain the requests of MLAs or ministers seeking free passes for high-profile events or concerts.

According to a source, Kejriwal has told his Principal Secretary to communicate with all the departments to put a blanket ban on demands for free passes of entertainment events in the city by AAP MLAs and ministers.