BANGALORE: Passionate and unpretentious! That sum up the profile of the 13 candidates the Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP ) has chosen to field from Karnataka.

AAP had brought all the 13 candidates it has announced on a single platform to interact with the media. This is for the first time a political party has brought its candidates together to share their thoughts.

The AAP candidates, who among others include a corporate, a former cop, writers and activists, were poetic, dreamy, idealistic and passionate.

It’s not just their profile and expertise, but their language too was diverse. They spoke different tongue, Kannada, Hindi and English.

For writer and former minister BT Lalitha Naik, AAP is the continuation of the tradition of the great social reformer of the 12th century Basavanna and Jayaprakash Narayan’s Total Revolution.

Unlike in other parties, none of the candidates were the office-bearers of the party. ``This could be strange to you. Our candidates are passionate and have contributed significantly in their sphere of activity,’’ said AAP National Executive Member Prithvi Reddy.

M R Vasudeva, the candidate from Dakshina Kannada, recited a Sanskrit sloka, while Dalit writer Kotiganahalli Ramaiah, candidate from Kolar, recited a Sufi poem and engineering professor Chandrakanth Kulkarni, party nominee from Bidar, recited a Hindi couplet. ``We have become slaves of corruption and dynasty politics. It’s time to get rid of corruption in this country. Else, our future generations will suffer,’’ said Ashfaq Ahmed Madaki, candidate from Chikkodi.

The party intends to contest all the 28 seats in the state. "We plan to announce the rest of the candidates by this weekend," said Reddy.

What they said:

V Balakrishnan (Bangalore Central): It’s easy to sit outside and criticize. I thought it’s time to get into the system and use my experience for clean governance. AAP is a great idea and hence I joined the party. For some, it (AAP) looks like anarchy, while for others it is a revolution. Corruption is the biggest problem the country faces today. It has increased the cost of running industries by 20-25 per cent. Our party intends to provide clean governance and fight against corruption and crony capitalism. There are enough solutions to the problems, but the problem is implementation. We should work with the system and involve in innovative implementation. I think people will support the idea.

Child rights activist Nina P Nayak (Bangalore South): Aam Aadmi seeks change and I am one of them. We can bring in transparency if the civil society becomes demanding. Equitable distribution is our mantra.

Former registrar of NLSIU Bangalore Prof Babu Mathew (Bangalore North): Corruption is all pervading and has affected all organs of the Constitution. It’s time to protect the Constitution. Apart from fighting for the cause of the labourers, my other interests are new laws and amendments to laws. All of us should participate in implementing the laws and the Constitution.

Software engineer and writer Ravikrishna Reddy (Bangalore Rural): We are trying to bring a blood-less revolution. There’s so much diversity in our party. Our common denominator is honesty and concern, while in other parties it is caste, money and muscle power. We are an alternative to the existing political system. I am confident that people choose the new option.

Former IGP of CRPF K Arkesh (Chikballapur): As a cop, I have served in most of the problematic regions in the country. I have been a participant observer for the last 38 years. During this time, I have fought the visible enemy. After my retirement, I thought I should fight the bigger threat, the invisible enemy. My failure or success is linked to the society. If I lose, the society loses too.

Architect and social activist Sridhar Kallahalla (Shimoga): I come from a land, which is known for struggles and rationalism. From here began the Kagodu movement. It is home for personalities like Kadidal Shamanna, Shantaveri Gopala Gowda and Jnanpith awardee U R Ananthamurthy. But, it is also for B S Yeddyurappa. Now, things are going off-the track. It’s time we restored the past glory.