GUWAHATI:
Buoyed by its first taste of victory in the two wards in Tinsukia and Lakhimpur district of Assam in the recently concluded civil body polls, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is presenting itself as the only alternative to the two national political parties BJP and the Congress in the upcoming elections to 60 wards of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) slated on April 21.
To woo the voters, the AAP state-in-charge Rajesh Sarma along with state coordinator Bhaben Choudhury and sangathan mantri Mahesh Joshi in the presence of other state leaders, on April 4, released 11-guarantees that centre around the basic issues of the people in the state.
“The supply of drinking water is the No 1 guarantee. Issues of a flash flood, waste management, sewer and drain, street light and CCTV camera installations across the city are on AAP’s top priority list,” AAP’s state convenor Choudhury said.
Choudhury said that if voted to power, the party will offer a corruption free-administration in the GMC.
AAP has fielded candidates in 40 out of 60 wards, while the BJP has fielded candidates in 52 seats leaving seven wards to its ally AGP.
Of the 40 candidates, 19 are women.
On the other hand, of two regional parties, AJP is contesting in 26 seats while Raijor Dal is skipping the elections. CPI(M) is fielding four candidates.
“We will script an impressive show in the elections. We need 31 seats to form the council. Several independent parties are also supporting us,” Choudhury said, expressing his confidence to win the poll.
The convenor further said that the GMC has failed to meet the basic demands of the people due to rampant corruption over the years, and expressed hope that people will vote for AAP as they are fed up with BJP and Congress.
“This time Congress is out of track. AJP has failed to draw the attention of the voters. People are not satisfied with the style of functioning of the BJP. So we are getting good response from the people,” said Manas Sarma, convenor, AAP, Kamrup district.
Speaking about BJP and other parties, he said, “People are our mitra. We do not have enemity with other political parties.”