Because we are different.

Kejriwal’s party named Aam Admi

24 November 2012

statesman news service

NEW DELHI, 24 NOV: With the announcement of his party’s name on Saturday, Mr Arvind Kejriwal declared that the empowerment of aam admi has begun. And quite so, as the name of the party will be the Aam Admi Party. Anyone will be able to become a member of the party by donating Rs 10.

“The name Aam Admi Party struck as natural since one can easily identify with the name,” said Mr Kejriwal, who has been elected a member of the national executive of the party. The party does not have any funds, so donations are necessary, said Mr Kejriwal, and Rs 10 is an amount the aam admi can afford.

The national council of the party, which has 300 members, adopted the constitution of the party on Saturday. A national executive of 23 members has been elected by the national council, which is to hold its first meeting tomorrow.

“The national council will be expanded by adding one member from every district. Also the constitution of the party says there can be 30 to 35 members in the national executive. We are committed to including those from the SC and ST and those who do not get adequately represented,” said Mr Kejriwal.

The formal launch of the party will be at Jantar Mantar on 26 November.

The primary units of the party will be the village, municipal ward and college. There will be a convener and joint convener in every primary unit. A provision has been made in the constitution that one of the conveners will be a woman.

The party’s constitution allows only one member of a family to be elected to an executive committee. “This provision goes against the current norm in most of the parties,” said Mr Yogendra Yadav, a member of the national executive.

Adhering to the principle of transparency, Mr Kejriwal has said the accounts of the party will be open for perusal by the public. The names of the donors and the expenditures made by the party will be made public from time to time, he said.  

A Lokpal and Lokayukta will be formed at national, state and district levels. Any person having any information against any executive member can give it to the Lokpal and Lokayukta.

‘More the merrier’, says Cong


CHANDIGARH, 24 NOV: The Congress today played down the launch of a political outfit by Mr Arvind Kejriwal, saying there were 1,453 political parties registered in India and one more would strengthen the democratic fabric.
  “If a person or group of people have decided to float a political party, it is their right,” senior Congress leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters here.  “The more the merrier,” Mr Tewari quipped, when asked to comment on one more party, Aam Aadmi, floated by activist Mr Kejriwal, coming into existence. pti