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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.

Arvind Kejriwal Points Out Several Instances of EVM Malfunction in Goa
PTI | April 23, 2019 8:07 PM IST
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday alleged that there have been several instances of f...
Arvind Kejriwal Points Out Several Instances of EVM Malfunction in Goa
indiacom
2019-04-23T09:07:08+00:00
2019-04-23T09:07:08+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
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Aam Aadmi Party Announces Names of 3 Candidates For LS Polls in Haryana
PTI | April 21, 2019 8:42 PM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is in alliance with the JJP, on Sunday announced its candidates for three...
Aam Aadmi Party Announces Names of 3 Candidates For LS Polls in Haryana
indiacom
2019-04-21T09:42:40+00:00
2019-04-21T09:42:40+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
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AAP Announces Names of Three Candidates Contesting For Lok Sabha Elections in Haryana
India.com News Desk | April 21, 2019 1:01 PM IST
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday declared candidates for at least three seats in Haryana. ...
AAP Announces Names of Three Candidates Contesting For Lok Sabha Elections in Haryana
indiacom
2019-04-21T02:01:41+00:00
2019-04-21T02:01:41+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
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Congress to Announce Candidates For Delhi Soon as Alliance With AAP 'Flip-Flops'
PTI | April 18, 2019 9:45 PM IST
Amid the continuing "flip-flop" over the tie-up for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on Thursday sa...
Congress to Announce Candidates For Delhi Soon as Alliance With AAP 'Flip-Flops'
indiacom
2019-04-18T10:45:32+00:00
2019-04-18T10:45:32+00:00
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Aam Aadmi Party Says There Will be no Alliance With Congress in Haryana
PTI | April 18, 2019 9:39 PM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday said there will be no alliance with the Congress in Haryana after th...
Aam Aadmi Party Says There Will be no Alliance With Congress in Haryana
indiacom
2019-04-18T10:39:55+00:00
2019-04-18T10:39:55+00:00
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AAP, Congress Alliance Talks Called Off Over Tie-up in Haryana: Sanjay Singh
PTI | April 17, 2019 10:10 PM IST
The talks of an alliance between the AAP and the Congress have been called off after the grand old p...
AAP, Congress Alliance Talks Called Off Over Tie-up in Haryana: Sanjay Singh
indiacom
2019-04-17T11:10:05+00:00
2019-04-17T11:10:05+00:00
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BJP Speeds up Candidate Selection Process in Delhi Amid Cong-AAP Alliance Speculation
PTI | April 17, 2019 10:01 PM IST
The BJP has sped up its candidate selection process in Delhi, amid increased speculation that the Co...
BJP Speeds up Candidate Selection Process in Delhi Amid Cong-AAP Alliance Speculation
indiacom
2019-04-17T11:01:56+00:00
2019-04-17T11:01:56+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
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Delhi BJP Leader Predicts AAP And Congress Will Form Alliance For Polls
PTI | April 16, 2019 10:35 PM IST
Former Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay claimed on Tuesday that despite the bickering between the Aam...
Delhi BJP Leader Predicts AAP And Congress Will Form Alliance For Polls
indiacom
2019-04-16T11:35:45+00:00
2019-04-16T11:35:45+00:00
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Rahul Gandhi Offers Four Seats to AAP in Delhi; Kejriwal Says 'You Are Helping Modi in UP, Other States'
India.com News Desk | April 15, 2019 6:56 PM IST
New Delhi: Amid the uncertainty over the alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress president Rah...
Rahul Gandhi Offers Four Seats to AAP in Delhi; Kejriwal Says 'You Are Helping Modi in UP, Other States'
indiacom
2019-04-15T07:56:47+00:00
2019-04-15T08:25:29+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
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Aam Aadmi Party is Not 'B Team' of Ruling BJP in Goa: Elvis Gomes
PTI | April 13, 2019 12:11 AM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party is not the "B team" of the ruling BJP in Goa and those making such claims should...
Aam Aadmi Party is Not 'B Team' of Ruling BJP in Goa: Elvis Gomes
indiacom
2019-04-12T13:11:37+00:00
2019-04-12T13:11:37+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Aam Aadmi Party And Jannayak Janata Party Form Alliance in Haryana
PTI | April 12, 2019 11:55 PM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) on Friday announced firming up an alliance i...
Aam Aadmi Party And Jannayak Janata Party Form Alliance in Haryana
indiacom
2019-04-12T12:55:40+00:00
2019-04-12T12:55:40+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
We Will Fight Alone But Are Ready For Alliance With AAP in Delhi: Congress
PTI | April 12, 2019 9:26 PM IST
The Congress on Friday announced that it will fight the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi alone but maintaine...
We Will Fight Alone But Are Ready For Alliance With AAP in Delhi: Congress
indiacom
2019-04-12T10:26:27+00:00
2019-04-12T10:26:27+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
AAP Fields Sitting MLA Baljinder Kaur From Bathinda Lok Sabha Seat
PTI | April 12, 2019 9:14 PM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday announced the name of its sitting MLA Baljinder Kaur as the Lok ...
AAP Fields Sitting MLA Baljinder Kaur From Bathinda Lok Sabha Seat
indiacom
2019-04-12T10:14:48+00:00
2019-04-12T10:14:48+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
AAP Rejects Alliance With Congress in Any State, Says Party Leader Sanjay Singh
India.com News Desk | April 11, 2019 8:35 AM IST
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has rejected an offer of alliance with the Congress party in an...
AAP Rejects Alliance With Congress in Any State, Says Party Leader Sanjay Singh
indiacom
2019-04-10T21:35:08+00:00
2019-04-10T21:35:08+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
AAP Releases BJP MP Manoj Tiwari's Report Card, Talks of Unfulfilled Promises
IANS | April 10, 2019 10:41 PM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday released a report card of BJP MP from North East Delhi, Manoj...
AAP Releases BJP MP Manoj Tiwari's Report Card, Talks of Unfulfilled Promises
indiacom
2019-04-10T11:41:36+00:00
2019-04-10T11:41:36+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
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Aam Aadmi Party Rejects Congress' Proposal For an Alliance in Delhi
IANS | April 10, 2019 10:33 PM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday rejected the Congress' proposal for an alliance in Delhi. Wit...
Aam Aadmi Party Rejects Congress' Proposal For an Alliance in Delhi
indiacom
2019-04-10T11:33:56+00:00
2019-04-10T11:33:56+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
Ahmed Patel Meets Sheila Dikshit Amid Uncertainty Over Congress-AAP Alliance
PTI | April 10, 2019 9:33 PM IST
Amid continued uncertainty over its tie-up with the Aam Aadmi Party, senior Congress leader Ahmed Pa...
Ahmed Patel Meets Sheila Dikshit Amid Uncertainty Over Congress-AAP Alliance
indiacom
2019-04-10T10:33:06+00:00
2019-04-10T10:33:06+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
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Dushyant Chautala Says His Party Seeks Alliance With Like-Minded Outfits
PTI | April 10, 2019 9:30 PM IST
Jannayak Janata Party leader Dushyant Chautala on Wednesday said his party is in the process of forg...
Dushyant Chautala Says His Party Seeks Alliance With Like-Minded Outfits
indiacom
2019-04-10T10:30:29+00:00
2019-04-10T10:30:29+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
AAP's Ashutosh Says This Year Lok Sabha Polls Will be Hindus vs Hindutva
IANS | April 5, 2019 2:48 PM IST
Since 2014, the political landscape of India has changed and now it's important to know not just the...
AAP's Ashutosh Says This Year Lok Sabha Polls Will be Hindus vs Hindutva
indiacom
2019-04-05T03:48:04+00:00
2019-04-05T03:48:04+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com
AAP Leader Bhagwant Mann Seeks Financial Support From People For Campaigning
PTI | April 3, 2019 9:35 PM IST
Punjab AAP chief and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has sought financial support from people for campaigni...
AAP Leader Bhagwant Mann Seeks Financial Support From People For Campaigning
indiacom
2019-04-03T10:35:40+00:00
2019-04-03T10:35:40+00:00
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
India.com