Even as the political temperature is rising in Punjab with all the political parties getting into election mode, the AAP is trying to take lead at least in declaring its first list of candidates who will contest the Assembly elections on behalf of the party. Although, AAP has missed its deadline of declaring the list in June as promised by it earlier, but the party is hopeful of coming out with its first list of candidates in less than a month.
The AAP’s 16-member election committee, which is responsible for short listing the candidates, has started its process. The party is sending observers to every constituency to meet volunteers and sympathisers and ask them for the names of candidates. After names come up all these people are asked to send their bio-data to the campaign committee.
According to AAP spokesperson Himmat Singh Shergill, who is also member of the campaign committee, “We are in the process of short listing the candidates; the party would release its first of candidates in less than a month. We are in a process of verification of credentials of the candidates. The character of the person is of utmost importance to our party, we cannot allow anyone with criminal record or of doubtful integrity to be our candidate”.
However, the opponents of AAP in Punjab feels that declaration of candidates by AAP is a tactic to keep its flock together. The Congress Legislative party leader Charanjeet Singh Chaani says, “AAP would not declare its tickets any time before November. They are in habit of telling lies and misleading people. They will not even declare their CM candidate. I can give this in writing, if by any chance a dozen of candidates are declared they would be names which are obvious to contest from AAP”.
There is also a thought that AAP could annoy some of the aspirants, who could work against party if denied ticket. However, despite doubts being raised about release of its list anytime soon AAP is quite confident of releasing the list after the visit of the party Chief Arvind Kejriwal in July to Punjab. The AAP political managers feel that they could not match other parties in money power, but could easily make out for that by declaring its candidates in advance, as this would give them ample time to interact with the people and tell them about the party policies.
