Aam Aadmi Party is an Indian political party and is currently the ruling party of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The birth of the AAP on 2nd October, 2012 was a watershed moment in India’s political history. It suddenly opened the doors for common citizens, who had been watching the decline of the country’s politics and governance from the sidelines, to become a part of a political party. There were no barriers to entry that had caused traditional political outfits to become family fiefdoms or communal organisations. Women and men, old and young, poor and rich – all were welcome as aam aurats and aam aadmis in this new party. In the year 2013, on the back of a surge of popular support, the AAP made a spectacular debut by winning 28 (out of 70) seats in the Delhi Assembly. Dismissed by mainstream political parties, political pundits and the news media as a minor player, the AAP scored what is now considered one of the biggest political upsets of all time.
2012 – Birth of a Political Revolution
The birth of the AAP on 2nd October, 2012 was a watershed moment in India’s political history. It suddenly opened the doors for common citizens, who had been watching the decline of the country’s politics and governance from the sidelines, to become a part of a political party. There were no barriers to entry that had caused traditional political outfits to become family fiefdoms or communal organisations. Women and men, old and young, poor and rich – all
2013 – Bijli Paani Andolan
The first issue the AAP took up in Delhi in the run up to the Assembly election was of fraudulently inflated electricity rates and water bills. The AAP launched an agitation against the ruling Congress government, against its collusion with power distribution companies and the water tanker mafia. From 23rd March onwards, Arvind Kejriwal began a fast to build pressure on the Sheila Dikshit government. Simultaneously, the party initiated a massive signature campaign to organise support for the cause.
2013 – AAP’s debut shakes up the political class
On the back of a surge of popular support, the AAP made a spectacular debut by winning 28 (out of 70) seats in the Delhi Assembly. Dismissed by mainstream political parties, political pundits and the news media as a minor player, the AAP scored what is now considered one of the biggest political upsets of all time. Not only had AAP reduced the incumbent Congress party to a mere 8 seats from the 43 it had won in 2008, Arvind Kejriwal had also defeated three-time Chief Ministe
2014 – Lok Sabha Elections
After failing to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill due to a lack of numbers in the Delhi Assembly, the AAP government resigned in February 2014 to seek a fresh and full mandate. However, before the re-election in Delhi could be held, the Lok Sabha elections were scheduled in April and May 2014. AAP contested on over 400 seats, and secured 4 seats – all from the state of Punjab. While the result did fall short of the expectations people had from the party, it was a strong debut in Punjab, the second state
2015 – A Landslide Victory In Delhi
Despite losing all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the AAP was quickly back on its feet, launching a mass contact programme to demand that elections be held in Delhi. The party took the achievements of its 49-day government to the people of Delhi, promising to end corruption once more if re-elected. This time, the party’s clarion call was “Paanch Saal Kejriwal” – promising that the Kejriwal-led AAP government will complete its tenure. The winter of 2
Delhi Government had approved the formation of 2,972 Mohalla Sabhas in 70 Assembly constituencies across the city in June 2016 as the first step in devolution of power to the people and making them direct participants in solving day-to-day issues affecting their quality of life. We will pursue with the Centre to bring in a strong Delhi Swaraj Bill that will formalize the roles and responsibilities of Mohalla Sabhas and ensure adequate funds and functions in the hands of the community.
Our senior citizens have spent their entire lives in the upbringing of their children. They are hardly able to fulfill their own wishes such as visit to a holy site of pilgrimage. AAP has taken upon itself to fulfil the wishes of senior citizens. We will take 10 lakh senior citizens in Delhi for Teerth Yatras over the next 5 years.
Aam Aadmi Party had passed the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill 2015 in Delhi Assembly in December 2015 and it is pending with the Central Government since then. AAP resolves to continue its struggle to get the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill passed by the Central government.
The AAP introduced the scheme of providing free transport to women in buses and the Delhi Metro. In a record time of four months, the AAP government fulfilled the promise of free rides for women in all Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster buses. The plan to make the Delhi Metro free for women could not be executed for lack of the Central government’s support. To ensure women’s safety in public transport, the AAP government deployed marshals in every bus.
Launched in 2015, the water-subsidy scheme benefits around 1.5 million households across Delhi. The scheme aims at encouraging water conservation, and also increase the coverage of the water metering system. After the scheme was introduced, the number of unmetered connections in Delhi dropped from about 390,000 to 180,000 between 2015-16 and 2016-17, data from the annual economic survey for 2017-18 showed. At the same time, the number of metered connections increased by nearly 400,000 from 1.92 million to 2.32 million.
The AAP government launched a power subsidy scheme by making electricity free for those consuming either up to 200 units or having a bill of up to ?800 a month. For those consuming between 201 and 400 units, there is a discount of ?800 per household. The scheme is estimated to benefit around 4.2 million households and would also encourage people to save electricty.
This was one of AAP’s focus areas, and also primary talking points in the campaign. From building over 8,000 classrooms to starting lessons in happiness and entrepreneurship at government schools, from bearing the cost of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) registrations for classes 10 and 12 students to offering free coaching for students from underprivileged backgrounds the AAP government made several moves on the education front.
Health care is a key issue and needs to made accessible to all. AAP has launched the scheme of Mohalla (neighbourhood) clinics and upcoming hospitals. The AAP government promises to set up 1,000 mohalla clinics to provide free consultation, medicines, and 212 tests. The AAP government has also started the Delhi Arogya Kosh scheme, which reimburses private hospitals for providing beneficiaries around 1,200 medical and surgical procedures and expensive radiological tests.
AAP introduced a scheme for installing CCTV cameras in entire Delhi. Finally they secured the clearance to install CCTV cameras in all residential and market areas. Several residents’ welfare associations have welcomed the move, saying it has helped them feel more secure. The plan is to install 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras in the entire Delhi
Design & Developed by Rental Uncle Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
