With the Assembly elections being only months away, the state’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has asked its sitting MLAs and halqa in-charges to launch a public outreach drive from Monday.
The MLAs and halqa in-charges being viewed as prospective candidates have been told to organise three “Lok Milnis” a day, present a report card of the work done under the AAP government and share their vision for the respective constituency with voters. The chosen leaders would also be given funds — likely around Rs 10 crore per constituency from the the Rangla Fund kitty — to carry out development works.
The prospective candidates have been asked to ensure that each village and block in their constituency was covered in the outreach programme by August 15. They have also been advised not to leave their constituencies during this two month period.
“The party wants to have a reap dividends of a massive public outreach,” said a senior party functionary, adding that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann was already holding these Lok Milnis. Even his Cabinet, including Finance Minister Harpal Cheema and Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal, have begun holding the milnis in their respective constituencies.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, is expected to preside over trader milnis to mobilise trade and industry in favour of the party.
The plan for the outreach campaign took shape in Mann and Kejriwal’s meeting on Thursday.
Sitting MLAs or halqa in-charges who are not on the party’s list of prospective candidates will not receive the earkmarked funds.
Harsimran Singh Ghuman, AAP’s halqa incharge from Bholath, said he start hosting the Lok Milnis in his constituency from Monday.
“I plan to cover all 142 villages and 48 wards that fall in the constituency within two months. I will be showcase the work undertaken in constituency, even though Bholath is represented by an Opposition party’s MLA. The state government’s welfare schemes, including free power, free health insurance and financial assistance to women will also be discussed,” he added.
