Aam Aadmi Party Issues its third shortlist

Delhi 2013 -Furthering its aim of promoting greater participation of aam aadmi in democratic processes, Aam Aadmi Party today announced its third list of shortlisted candidates. The third shortlist comprises of 8 Assembly Constituencies from which 18 candidates have been shortlisted. A total of 95 candidates had applied from these 8 vidhan sabhas, namely Ballimaran, Delhi Cantt, Hari Nagar, Karawal Nagar, Mangolpuri, Narela, Sangam Vihar and Timarpur.

Interestingly, out of the 18 shortlisted candidates, 8 are women from different walks of life. One such candidate is Farhana Anjum from Ballimaran. Forty-year old Farhana Anjum had contested 2012 councillor elections and had managed to get more than 5000 votes from her ward, giving a tough fight to the lead candidate. Another shortlisted candidate from Sangam Vihar, Anita Singh is the wife of a retired IAF officer and has devoted her life to social work and causes related to women. Another young potential female candidate from Mangolpuri is Rakhee Birla who belongs to Balmiki community and is pursuing a career in TV journalism.

One of the shortlisted candidates from Delhi Cantt area is NSG Commando Surendra Singh, who fought terrorists in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks thus saving hundreds of life. Also among the candidate shortlist is Jagdeep Singh, who ever since he lost his father in 1984 sikh riots, has been fighting for the rights of the victims of the carnage. Another candidate from Karawal Nagar is Kapil Mishra who is an environment activist with Greenpeace and has been fighting to save Yamina river.

Aam Aadmi Party has tried to include people from all social groups. Thirty-four year old Mohammad Salim is an auto driver and has been shortlisted from Timarpur vidhan sabha. Another potential candidate from Narela is Rajesh Kumari who is a LIC and PO agent.

The average age of the candidates who have been shortlisted is approximately 36 years. The youngest candidate is Wasim Ahmad Sonawale from Ballimaran constituency who is 25 years. The oldest is Baljeet Singh Mann from Narela Vidhan Sabha who is 60 years old. Mann’s father was in the Azad Hind Fauj, led by Subash Chandra Bose.

A total of 95 candidates had applied from these constituencies who underwent a tough screening process. The screening committee interacted with all these candidates individually before shortlisting 18 candidates. The committee tried its best not to shortlist candidates who have any kind of criminal background.

AAP is committed to field 70 candidates with clean image who have a zeal to change the way politics id perceived today. Not a single tainted candidate would be allowed to contest for any elections from AAP ticket. In last Delhi Assembly elections, Congress and BJP gave tickets to 19 tainted candidates each, while BSP gave tickets to 15 candidates with criminal backgrounds.

Aam Aadmi Party has uploaded detailed profiles of these 18 candidates on its website (www.aamaadmiparty.org) and has invited public feedback on these candidates. Based on public feedback and voting of active volunteers, candidates would be finalised in these constituencies.

So far AAP has finalised candidates for 11 vidhan sabhas and has shortlisted candidates in another 20 assemblies including the 8 released today.

People can send in their feedback on these candidates for the next 15 days through the following ways:

Email: delhielection@aamaadmiparty.org

Website: www.aamaadmiparty.org

Address: Election Cell, Aam Aadmi Party, A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, UP: 201010

Helpline: 09718500606

If credible evidence of any wrong doing is received against any of the candidates, their names will be taken off the shortlist. We urge you to participate in this process to ensure that we select the best candidate to represent the AAM Aadmi. This is not the final selection process though, the detailed process is outlined here.

The third list of candidates for the Delhi elections have been put of the AAP website http://delhi.aamaadmiparty.org/Delhi-Elections-2013.

You can view the biodate of all the candidates.

Photographs of the candidates have not yet been put.

If you live in Delhi, do visit the site and give your comments and select the best possible candidate.