AAP rebels to hold Swaraj Abhiyan across all states, may form party later

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“We are not saying that we will not form (a political party) at all. A political party is one which is registered with the Election Commission and contests elections… Later on, it is possible, if we cross two parameters, it can be given the shape of a political party. First, we need to prove that this organisation is being run on the principles of swaraj and, second, we also need to prove that we are grappling with big issues faced by the country. Some months later, or a year later, this will be reviewed and then the decision will be taken,” Bhushan said.

Headed by Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Anand Kumar, the movement will involve around 30-35 state-level and local-level meetings or ‘samvads’ being organised in the next few months.

While the faction maintained that Swaraj Abhiyan was “not a political party, it is not an NGO, it is not a government office”, the ousted leaders maintained that it will function as a federal unit and on the principles of swaraj and transparency.

Yadav said, “Swaraj yatra will be organised across the maximum number of districts so that more people can join the movement to strengthen alternative politics… Swaraj Samvad, in its functioning, will follow the principles and ethics for which we had fought… a code of conduct will also be implemented.”

Stating that the movement will not be personality-centric, Yadav said, “The organisation will be run by a collective leadership. It will refrain from using slogans which involve people who are still alive. Swaraj Abhiyan will listen to the voice of volunteers. It will seriously take into consideration ideas and planning/policy. For taking decisions, a steering committee under Swaraj Abhiyan comprising around 100 people has been formed. A temporary committee will form a working committee of 10-12 people. This will take 3-4 months. This committee will comprise 7 people who were expelled or who resigned from the AAP’s NE and PAC as well as AAP MLA from Timarpur Pankaj Pushkar.”

According to the group, the campaign will work on principles of social diversity, transparency, collective leadership, zero tolerance on ethical code of conduct, volunteers’ voice and primacy of ideas.

Bhushan quotes ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to describe AAP

On being asked about the possible expulsion of these leaders from the party following the PAC meeting, Yadav said, “Unka raj hai, jo karna chahe kare, (it is their rule, let them do whatever they wish to do) We are hearing a new thing these days that even before the meeting, decision are leaked. I request them to read the constitution but they did not do this earlier.” Bhushan, on the other hand, decided to quote from Alice in Wonderland and said, “There is a quote in Alice in Wonderland, which says ‘let the execution take place, the trial may follow’. This is what is happening in the party.”