Ahmedabad: With the Gujarat municipal corporations elections fast approaching, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced that it will contest in the civic polls and has chosen Gopal Italia to be their face.
Italia in an exclusive interview to ETV Bharat bureau chief Bharat Panchal said that the party has reorganized itself with a view to contesting the municipal corporation elections. It party has begun preparations for the elections in full swing will present its Delhi model with the promise to free Gujarat of corruption.
Question: Elections of municipal corporations are expected to be held in February. Due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic, there is very little time and yet you have announced the party’s decision to contest election. How well is AAP prepared?
Answer: We have laid special stress on expanding the party organization. We have appointed the party’s state organization on December 24. We have chosen the names of the candidates and their final list would be announced shortly. Perhaps our party would be the first to announce its candidates so that the candidates start their campaign in their constituencies immediately. We are already holding street corner meetings during which we are going door to door in residential colonies explaining to the people what the Aam Aadmi Party stands for and has done in Delhi.
Question: Given that you have appointed the party’s state unit and begun preparations what are the issues you are going to present before the people so that they vote for your candidate? In municipal elections, local issues and problems are more relevant so which are the issues you are going to take up in your campaign?
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Answer: The elections are of the city civic bodies. City means water, sewage and road. Problems related to these three need to be solved. It is the primary responsibility of the municipal corporation to meet these three basic needs. Arvind Kejriwal has addressed these basic problems in Delhi in addition to the issue of education, health, cleanliness, roads and electricity. He has done excellent work in these areas. We will present the Delhi model before the people of Gujarat. All the municipal bodies in Gujarat have become dens of corruption. A coterie of two to three persons is running the municipal corporation as if it is their proprietary business establishment. They are running the civic body to rob the people of their hard earned money and are indulging in rampant corruption. Take the case of Ahmedabad city where during every monsoon, the roads crack and cave resulting in the deaths of many people in accidents. Roads should be constructed only once that must last at least for five years. The government schools are in a pathetic condition and many of them have become dilapidated. The government hospitals, instead of curing the ailments, cause the death of patients. Aam Aadmi Party has worked in these areas keeping the interest of people at the centre. We have shown the model in Delhi.
Question: BJP has been in power in Gujarat since years. Will the Delhi model be successful in Gujarat?
Answer: Delhi model is not confined to one state, it has become a national model. Delhi is a state of migrants. People from other states have come to Delhi to live. They have welcomed the Delhi model. If the model can be successful in the national capital Delhi, why will it not succeed in Gujarat. I am confident that the Delhi model can be replicated and accepted by the people of Gujarat. Gujarat Is wondering if the model can be successful in Delhi in just five years what are the other governments doing?
Question: What do you have to say about the farmers’ agitation in Delhi?
Answer: The government is totally wrong with regard to the three farm laws. The farmers’s demand is completely just. The government has an ego problem. While the farmers are carrying on their agitation in biting cold weather, instead of holding talks with them the government and its supporters are describing the farmers as terrorists and khalistani. This is utterly wrong.
Question: What does the Aam Aadmi Party want the central government to do about the farmers?
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Answer: Aam Aadmi Party’s stand on the farmers’ agitation is clear. It is not that the AAP started opposing the government after the farmers hit the road. AAP has been opposing the government ever since the three laws were passed. The party’s Rajya Sabha members had opposed the bill when it was introduced in the house. The laws are to help companies double their profit. The law is meant to exploit the farmers. These black laws must be scrapped.
Question: The Congress has been performing poorly in Gujarat. BJP won all the 26 Lok Sabha seats. In recent assembly by-election, BJP won all the 8 assembly seats. Congress is breaking down. Will this situation benefit the Aam Aadmi Party in the coming municipal elections?
Answer: Whether Congress is breaking is not our concern. Our focus is only one – we have done excellent work in Delhi and want to do the same here. Now, it is for the people to decide. Instead of getting into such political debate we want to present our vision before the people, nothing else.
Question: What would be Aam Aadmi Party’s message to the people of Gujarat?
Answer: Aam Aadmi Party would like to say that change is universal. Now to bring change in Gujarat, Aam Aadmi Party has come as a party of educated, honest, young and patriotic persons. People of Gujarat should vote in favour of basic issues, politics of work, for the educated young people for the real development of Gujarat.
