Home > Topics > Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Aam Aadmi Party or AAP (English translation: Common Man's Party) is an Indian Political Party formed on 26^th November 2012 and is currently the ruling party in Delhi. The recently formed party has also spread its influence in Goa and Punjab and wishes to run for elections where the party is trying to create their own vote base. The party was founded after the anti-corruption movement and the founders of the party were part of the India Against Corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. The party was formed with the main view to clean politics as well as to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill which had the provisions for investigation and trial in the corruption cases. Arvind Kejriwal became the head of the party and launched AAP on 26^th November and they got the Election Commission recognition in March 2013.

The party requested and was allotted the symbol of 'Broom' and the party wanted the broom as their symbol as their agenda of forming the party was 'to clean up the political set up' of the country. The other reason why broom was selected as their symbol as it symbolizes dignity of labour, the party's official website claims that "the party hopes to clean the filth which has permeated our government and our legislature. The country needs a clean sweep of its corrupted main stream political parties". The party was formed with the ideology of equality and justice that forms a part of the Indian Constitution. The party believes in empowering the common man and increasing their participation in the democracy. The party also believes in the Gandhian concept of Swaraj and that the Swaraj Government will be directly accountable to the people rather than the officials. The Swaraj model lays stress on self-governance, community building and decentralization.

The party made its electoral debut in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Elections and the party contested on all the 70 seats. After the election results were declared, AAP became the second largest party and acquired 28 of the 70 seats. No party was able to gain a majority in the election and AAP was invited to form a minority government after receiving a conditional support from the Indian National Congress. AAP's first important agenda after coming to power was the implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The lack of majority however deferred the same and the party's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned after the small tenure of 49 days in protest. The party then contested the 2014 General Elections and 434 Candidates in the general elections. However the party failed miserably and was able to gain only 4 seats - all in Punjab. The party wasn't even able to gain a single seat in Delhi. However, in the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections, held just months after BJP won in the country, AAP created history by winning 67 out of the 70 seats. Among the two national political parties, BJP and Indian National Congress, BJP won 3 seats whereas Congress did not win any seat. The party gained 53.4% of votes and this led to an end in the President's Rule in the national capital and Arvind Kejriwal took the oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi for the second time on 14^th February 2015 along with six cabinet ministers that included Manish Sisodia, Asim Ahmed Khan, Sandeep Kumar, Satyendra Jain, Gopal Rai and Jitender Singh Tomar. After coming to power in New Delhi, the party reduced electricity bills for up to 400 units by way of subsidy. It also provided free water to households with a water meter (up to 20 kilolitres). The Kejriwal Government also scrapped the much-debated Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-retail. Sticking to its core vision, the AAP set up an anti-corruption helpline for citizens to report on corrupt government officials.

However, the party also has been one of the most controversial parties. Two of the founding members of the party Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan left the party and accused the party leader, Arvind Kejriwal of not considering anyone equal in the party. After the 2015 elections, eight out of the 67 active MLA's have been arrested for the cases related to forgery, extortion, rioting, criminal intimidation, corruption, attempted murder, etc. The more famous arrests include that of Jitender Singh Tomar who was the Law Minister of Delhi and the member of AAP. He was arrested on 9^th June 2015 after the complaints that his degree certificates were forged. Another MLA, Surinder Singh was arrested after assaulting an NDMC worker. Mahendra Yadav was arrested for rioting and violent child sex abuse issues. MLA Sandeep Kumar was removed after Arvind Kejriwal received a sex CD showing Sandeep in a compromising position with a women.

Despite all the controversies, the party is still considered as one of the most popular party in the Indian politics and the party is said to be a major player in the upcoming Goa and Punjab Legislative Elections.

BJP Escalates Attack on AAP Govt, Claims Water, Power Crisis in Delhi
India.com News Desk | June 11, 2019 11:03 PM IST
Arvind Kejriwal's claim that Delhi gets round-the-clock power supply and that too at the cheapest ra...
BJP Escalates Attack on AAP Govt, Claims Water, Power Crisis in Delhi
indiacom
2019-06-11T12:03:08+00:00
2019-06-11T12:03:08+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Delhi Congress Chief Sheila Dikshit Accuses AAP of 'Open Loot', Asks Delhiites to Stop Paying Electricity Bills
India.com News Desk | June 9, 2019 6:16 PM IST
New Delhi: The Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit slammed the Aam Aadmi Party by alleging that the ...
Delhi Congress Chief Sheila Dikshit Accuses AAP of 'Open Loot', Asks Delhiites to Stop Paying Electricity Bil
indiacom
2019-06-09T07:16:44+00:00
2019-06-09T07:16:44+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Delhi Govt Shows Procurement of e-Buses Delayed Due to MCC For LS Polls
India.com News Desk | June 7, 2019 7:28 PM IST
The Delhi government has in its outcome budget 2019-20, released by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sis...
Delhi Govt Shows Procurement of e-Buses Delayed Due to MCC For LS Polls
indiacom
2019-06-07T08:28:57+00:00
2019-06-07T08:28:57+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Aam Aadmi Party Ministers Hit Ground to Know People's Problems
PTI | June 5, 2019 12:51 AM IST
With a few months left for assembly elections, Delhi Cabinet ministers, including Deputy CM Manish S...
Aam Aadmi Party Ministers Hit Ground to Know People's Problems
indiacom
2019-06-04T13:51:34+00:00
2019-06-04T13:51:34+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Manoj Tiwari Asks Four Questions to Arvind Kejriwal Over 'Free Travel For Women' Announcement
India.com News Desk | June 3, 2019 9:11 PM IST
New Delhi: After attacking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the announcement of free travel...
Manoj Tiwari Asks Four Questions to Arvind Kejriwal Over 'Free Travel For Women' Announcement
indiacom
2019-06-03T10:11:30+00:00
2019-06-03T12:38:25+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
'Kejriwal Trying to Mislead People', Says Manoj Tiwari After Delhi CM Announced Free Travel to Women
India.com News Desk | June 3, 2019 3:25 PM IST
New Delhi: Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari has hit back at Chief Minister Arvi...
'Kejriwal Trying to Mislead People', Says Manoj Tiwari After Delhi CM Announced Free Travel to Women
indiacom
2019-06-03T04:25:23+00:00
2019-06-03T04:33:39+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Public Transport Made Free For Women Commuters in Delhi | What we Know so Far
India.com News Desk | June 3, 2019 2:53 PM IST
New Delhi: Ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls slated to be held in 2020, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief ...
Public Transport Made Free For Women Commuters in Delhi | What we Know so Far
indiacom
2019-06-03T03:53:41+00:00
2019-06-03T04:03:56+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Twitterati Reacts on Delhi Metro And Aam Aadmi Party’s Plan to Give Free Rides to Women, Says "It's Gender Inequality"
India.com Buzz Desk | June 2, 2019 6:13 PM IST
The Delhi Metro and buses fare are likely to be free for women in the capital according to Arvind Ke...
Twitterati Reacts on Delhi Metro And Aam Aadmi Party’s Plan to Give Free Rides to Women, Says "It's Gender
indiacom
2019-06-02T07:13:40+00:00
2019-06-02T07:13:40+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
We Were Not Able to Tell People Why They Should Vote For us: Kejriwal to Party Workers
PTI | May 29, 2019 8:15 PM IST
The AAP was not able to explain to the people why they should vote for them in the Lok Sabha polls, ...
We Were Not Able to Tell People Why They Should Vote For us: Kejriwal to Party Workers
indiacom
2019-05-29T09:15:53+00:00
2019-05-29T09:15:53+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
People Saw LS Polls as Fight Between Modi And Rahul, Kejriwal on AAP's Debacle; Insists Will Win Assembly Elections
India.com News Desk | May 29, 2019 4:55 PM IST
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday lauded his party workers for running a ...
People Saw LS Polls as Fight Between Modi And Rahul, Kejriwal on AAP's Debacle; Insists Will Win Assembly Ele
indiacom
2019-05-29T05:55:20+00:00
2019-05-29T05:55:20+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Will Leave Aam Aadmi Party in 2020: MLA Alka Lamba
PTI Feeds | May 26, 2019 3:51 PM IST
New Delhi: Disgruntled Aam Aadmi Party legislator Alka Lamba has announced that she would leave the ...
Will Leave Aam Aadmi Party in 2020: MLA Alka Lamba
indiacom
2019-05-26T04:51:37+00:00
2019-05-26T06:53:40+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
No Alliance, AAP Will Contest Delhi Assembly Polls on Its Own: Gopal Rai
IANS | May 24, 2019 9:20 PM IST
A day after being routed in the Lok Sabha contest, Delhi's ruling AAP on Friday said there is no alt...
No Alliance, AAP Will Contest Delhi Assembly Polls on Its Own: Gopal Rai
indiacom
2019-05-24T10:20:15+00:00
2019-05-24T10:20:15+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Arvind Kejriwal Holds Talk With to Akhilesh Yadav to Discuss Post-Results Strategy
PTI | May 21, 2019 11:31 PM IST
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal talked to Samajwadi Party chief Akh...
Arvind Kejriwal Holds Talk With to Akhilesh Yadav to Discuss Post-Results Strategy
indiacom
2019-05-21T12:31:06+00:00
2019-05-21T12:31:06+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Says 'Will be Assassinated by my PSO'; Police Refute His Claim
India.com News Desk | May 18, 2019 6:17 PM IST
New Delhi: Hours after Arvind Kejriwal claimed that he will be assassinated like former Prime Minist...
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Says 'Will be Assassinated by my PSO'; Police Refute His Claim
indiacom
2019-05-18T07:17:23+00:00
2019-05-18T07:17:23+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
BJP After my Life, I Will be Assassinated Like Indira Gandhi: Kejriwal
PTI | May 18, 2019 5:36 PM IST
Alleging that the BJP was after his life, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejr...
BJP After my Life, I Will be Assassinated Like Indira Gandhi: Kejriwal
indiacom
2019-05-18T06:36:44+00:00
2019-05-18T06:36:44+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Delhi Police Tries in Vain to Stop AAP Presser, Claims it Violated MCC
PTI | May 12, 2019 12:33 AM IST
The Delhi Police on Saturday intervened to stop a presser by AAP candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar, sayi...
Delhi Police Tries in Vain to Stop AAP Presser, Claims it Violated MCC
indiacom
2019-05-11T13:33:09+00:00
2019-05-11T13:33:09+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Ready to Back Any Party Supporting Statehood For Delhi, Except BJP: Kejriwal
PTI | May 12, 2019 12:29 AM IST
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said post-elections they would be ready to back...
Ready to Back Any Party Supporting Statehood For Delhi, Except BJP: Kejriwal
indiacom
2019-05-11T13:29:37+00:00
2019-05-11T13:29:37+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Congress Complains to EC Over AAP Making Promotional Calls on Poll Eve
IANS | May 11, 2019 11:57 PM IST
The Congress on Saturday complained to the Election Commission that Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party w...
Congress Complains to EC Over AAP Making Promotional Calls on Poll Eve
indiacom
2019-05-11T12:57:00+00:00
2019-05-11T12:57:00+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
AAP's Gopal Rai Reveals Party Used Every Means Possible to Reach Voters
IANS | May 10, 2019 11:35 PM IST
Calling itself way ahead of its opponents, the Congress and the BJP, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party ...
AAP's Gopal Rai Reveals Party Used Every Means Possible to Reach Voters
indiacom
2019-05-10T12:35:01+00:00
2019-05-10T12:35:01+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
AAP Claims Gautam Gambhir Uses Body Double For Roadshows, Posts Pictures
India.com News Desk | May 10, 2019 9:07 PM IST
New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday launched a scathing attack on Gautam...
AAP Claims Gautam Gambhir Uses Body Double For Roadshows, Posts Pictures
indiacom
2019-05-10T10:07:39+00:00
2019-05-10T10:36:02+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com