AAP misses target in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Feb 4, 2014: After initial euphoria and enthusiasm the  Aam Admi Party (AAP) ‘magic’ seems to have faded in Vizag, which has many urban, middle class and young voters. The membership enrollment which was launched amidst much fanfare has disappointed the local AAP committee members.

When the membership drive was launched in the first week of January, around 1,000 persons were enrolled in just 2 days. Against the target of 1 lakh memberships by March only close to 10,000 enrolled until now. On field responses from even middle class voters is said to be in favour of conventional parties, admitted AAP local leaders.

 Now, that they have very less time, AAP local activists have reduced the enrollment target to 25,000 members by March.  City population pegs at 21 lakh. “Though there is good response to our party, locals are more interested in conventional parties. We will have to work really hard in Andhra Pradesh to convince them and bring them to our fold if we really want to see and bring change in the society,” said an AAP Vizag committee member.

AAP Vizag wing is also finding it difficult for volunteers to work on shift basis to establish and strengthen the party. At present there only 25 to 30 young volunteers who have formed as teams and taken up membership drive by visiting people.

The AAP Vizag team also planned to create impact by extensively using social media. But hardly there are any takers for the AAP Vizag page on Facebook which was launched on Jan 17. There are no debates, discussions on any local issues on the Facebook page. Mass emails, bulk SMSs, mapping of various zones using Google Maps, extensive use of Social Media like Facebook and Twitter was the strategy of AAP Vizag.

 Now they are banking on a proposed public meeting in the city to garner some support from locals. “We planned a public meeting in the second week of February, but due to some reasons we had to postpone it towards the month end. We are hopeful that the proposed meeting will act as a stimulus and boost AAP activities in the city,” said AAP local coordinator, Sistla Venugopal Rao, who is looking after enrollments.