PUNE: The Aam Admi Party 's (AAP) stunning performance in Delhi and its latest foray into Pune politics have alerted the city units of Congress and BJP who are wary of conceding any opportunity to the newbie to point fingers at them.

AAP's decision to contest Pune Lok Sabha is a direct threat to suspended Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi and his followers, who want a fourth term for the beleaguered leader. In fact, the growing support for the anti-corruption agenda of the AAP could very well end Kalmadi's dream of returning to the Congress and get re-nominated or secure a ticket for his family. Senior party leaders and members of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) have already told the party high command that bringing Kalmadi back into the party would send a wrong signal to the voters.

Congress is facing substantial embarrassment over the Adarsh society scam report. Political pundits say the party will have to pay a price if leaders like Kalmadi are brought back and nominated as Lok Sabha candidates. City Congress president Abhay Chhajed admits that AAP will have its own share of votes in the city, but said that it will not affect the Congress party. "We have our own base and AAP will not make any impact on our votes," said Chhajed. However, the anti-Kalmadi camp in the Congress is using the AAP card to stall Kalmadi's comeback. The AAP has nominated activist Subhash Ware as its Pune candidate anticipating that Kalmadi would throw his hat into the ring.

Active in various social movements across the state for the last 25 years, Ware comes from a non-political background and commands respect among activists for his simplicity. The BJP's mother organization - the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) -wants the party to nominate a candidate who has a clean background.

"The BJP has to consider AAP's candidate while finalizing the BJP-Sena candidate for the Pune constituency. People are going to compare BJP and AAP candidates. Anil Shirole's clean image will help the party take on AAP," said a senior BJP leader who supports Anil Shirole's candidature. BJP MLA Girish Bapat, who is another contender for the Lok Sabha seat, is also banking on his grassroots connection.

"The AAP will make an impact, but the BJP will not be affected. They will not be able to dent into the BJP-Sena's vote bank," said Shirole.

However, the AAP is clear on its agenda. "Corruption is one of the main issues in our election campaign. People are tired of corrupt politics and fed up with elected representatives plundering public money. People want a representative who relates to them. We are going to make maximum efforts to connect people and make them realize that they have to vote if they want a change," said Ware.

