Bangalore: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal Saturday struck a chord with Bangaloreans during a day-long road show to campaign for his party’s candidates contesting in the general elections.
“People of Karnataka, especially Bangaloreans, are fed up with the Congress and the BJP whom they voted to power in every alternate election as they had no choice then,” a beaming Kejriwal told reporters.
“They have a choice in the AAP in this election as we offer an alternative to provide a clean government to serve them,” he said.
Encouraged by the response from citizens to the road show through three parliamentary constituencies – Bangalore North, Bangalore Central and Bangalore South – Kejriwal expressed confidence that the “mature” electorate would prefer to vote for the AAP.
The AAP has selected candidates to contest from 13 of the 28 parliamentary seats in Karnataka that goes to polls April 17.
The AAP is also in the process of finalising names for the remaining 15 seats.
Standing in an open jeep and flanked by candidates from the city’s three seats – Infosys honcho V. Balakrishnan (Bangalore Central), Nina Nayak (Bangalore South) and Babu Mathew (Bangalore North) – Kejriwal appealed to the people to vote for the “Jhadu” (broom) to bring about a revolutionary change in the country.
“You have a wonderful opportunity this time to be a part of the change we want to bring about in Karnataka and India.
“You have seen how people from all walks of life voted for our candidates in the recent elections in Delhi. Though we could not secure majority, we were able to defeat the mighty Congress and the BJP and managed to form a government.
“We want the same kind of support as this is your election and not just ours,” Kejriwal said to loud applause from the crowd.
Launching the road show from Hebbal suburb in the northwest, Kejriwal’s cavalcade passed through several localities across the city.
Though the AAP convoy, led by its volunteers on a dozen motorbikes, stuck to the routes and thoroughfares cleared by traffic police, its slow movement and gathering of people at junctions and crossroads led to vehicles being diverted.
“We are sticking to the route cleared by police and conducting the road show in accordance with the model code of conduct with the permitted number of vehicles. Other vehicles behind or in front of our convoy belong to the public, including fans supporting our leader,” an AAP spokesman told IANS.
The party’s symbol broom was held high by volunteers.
Halting at several points and holding a microphone and loudspeaker, Kejriwal sought people’s support in his battle against corruption, price rise, criminal politicians and crony capitalists.
“I hope the intelligent and discerning voters of this reputed cosmopolitan will strengthen our party’s battle against the ills plaguing the country by joining hands with us,” Kejriwal asserted.
Urging the people to press the party’s symbol in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) for providing an alternative government, Kejriwal said people have a responsibility to clean up the system for transparent governance, infrastructure development and efficient delivery of services.
The road show concluded at the War Memorial in the city centre.
