Local Bodies Poll: AAP volunteers get demoralised with delay in holding elections
Volunteers of Aam Adami Party (AAP), who were aspirants for the ticket of councillors, are also demoralised with the delay in elections. Now it is being expected that local bodies elections would be held in 2025 after by-elections, in this way the councillors would only get two and half years to work with the AAP government as most of the time MC house gets inactive when the ruling party get defeated in assembly elections. Some vocal AAP volunteers alleged that it is policy of the party leadership to keep the power in few hands and they don’t want to decentralise the power.
Pawan Sharma, a political activist, who used to work with AAP said, “Other political parties have members and workers, who have stakes in their party. They have rights and demand share in the power. But in the Aam Aadmi Party there are volunteers. They can’t claim any post or ticket”.
“Senior AAP leader promised to share power with vegetable sellers, auto drivers and common man. There were more than 10 aspirants for the ticket of councillor in each MC ward. They have their own groups with internal coordination. During the last one and half year, these aspirants spent their money on posters and hoarding to make a claim on the ticket but elections are getting delayed. Now they are demoralised and not only leaving claim for ticket but the party, said Sharma.
“The delay in elections is against the spirit of democracy and decentralization of power, which is strongly recommended in the Panchayati Raj Act. The AAP leadership is delaying the elections as they are not confident about the victory. The residents are suffering as elected representatives used to perform several duties. Attestation of forms for various government welfare schemes, registration of marriage, validation of government documents and acknowledgement about the identity needed an elected representative. The delay in elections led to suffering of the common man”, said Kuljit Singh, a former AAP activist.
