Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Gujarat is gearing up for a triangular contest with the BJP, Congress and now Aam Aadmi Party is entering into the electoral fray. With the elections to the self-government bodies approaching fast, Aam Aadmi Party released the first list of its candidates. The list was released after a party meeting held in the presence of Aam Aadmi Party’s national spokesperson Atishi Singh who spoke to ETV Bharat.
- How will politics be in Gujarat during the elections to the local bodies?
Aatishi Singh said as far as Gujarat politics is concerned, there is only one party active in the state. Mounting an oblique attack on the Congress, she alleged that in Gujarat there is an alliance between the BJP and the Congress. There is an understanding between the two parties because the Congress announces its list of candidates only after the BJP releases its list. She also alleged that the list of Congress candidates is prepared in the BJP office.
She said there was widespread corruption in Gujarat. The condition of government hospitals is worse than that of prisons. But, people of Gujarat have no alternative and so the BJP rules unchallenged. However, this will not be the case any more with the Aam Aadmi Party entering Gujarat politics. It is prepared to contest both the local bodies as well as state assembly elections.
- What formula is expected during elections? Will it be Delhi formula or Gujarat will have a new formula?
For Gujarat, Aam Aadmi Party has decided a specific strategy.
The way Aam Aadmi Party goes door-to-door to explain to people about the party’s work, we too will go door-to-door and will assure people that our party will do similar work in Gujarat as we have done in Delhi. We will appeal to the people to help us form a strong administration. We will explain the manner in which the Kejriwal has worked in Delhi, the party will work in Gujarat. We also need to explain to the people door-to-door about the need to have a clean administration.
- How do you view the performance of Gujarat during the pandemic?
When people in the rest of the country were receiving treatment for COVID-19, in Gujarat there was corruption. Not only was there corruption in masks but also with regard to ventilators. The situation in Gujarat was worst and the common people were suffering and in a pitiable condition. There is also allegation that tests were not being done. The condition of hospitals is also very bad. The Gujarat government has utterly failed on this front.
- How does the Aam Aam Party view the alliance between BTP and AIMIM?
Owaisi has been working for the BJP from the beginning. In Gujarat too it is clear that this alliance has been formed to support the BJP. This means that already the Congress was with the BJP and now BTP and AIMIM too will be helping the BJP. However, the Aam Aadmi Party is becoming strong with a specific strategy and a specific formula. In Gujarat politics, the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party is a new challenge before all political parties.
