Why, how and when did I join AAP

It was not one incident or a call by which I joined Aam Aadmi Party. I was a congress supporter since I was 18. Even when I knew about corruption by congress leaders, and even after I came to know about India against Corruption (IAC) movement, but I continued my support to congress in Mangalore for non-availability of a better option. I supported Congress to the extent that I requested all my friends to vote for JR Lobo in assembly elections held in Mangalore in 2013. I had supported him because I have the habit of selecting the best option; in Mangalore, congress was no longer the best option when AAP fielded its candidate in LS elections 2014.

I supported IAC by my own little humble ways, but without joining them in any ground level work. I had sent sms, sent missed call to their number, shared their posts in facebook, spoke positively about them with my friends & family. I admit that I was not very keen about the day to day updates by them, but I clicked on every facebook post that I saw on my timeline about IAC.

When Arvind and others formed Aam Aadmi Party, I was happy but cautious. Reason for it is obvious for those who are from those times; I was also a person who thought that politics was dirty. Never the less, I started knowing about it through internet. What I liked the most was the anti-corruption agenda, Swaraj, rights (to reject, recall) and its clarity about difference with other parties.

I remember the first elections that they fought in Delhi and how my close friend and a former Major of Indian Army (a BJP supporter) campaigned for it from Mangalore. I saw my friend sharing aam aadmi party posts on facebook. I saw him donating to party. I saw him doing tele campaigning for aam aadmi party. His posts on facebook plus my own little research of knowing AAP gave me a lot of thoughts and motivation. By this time, I was clear in my choice, if AAP were to contest elections in my place. I started defending AAP in the verbal clashes at home with my father, who was a congress supporter. I was sharing aap posts in facebook.

I was supporting AAP of Delhi, but was not ready to get involved in AAP Mangalore unit, at that time. When AAP won 28 seats in Delhi elections, there was buzz about AAP all over, even in my place. There was a membership campaign by AAP that attracted my attention. But then, I was still in dilemma.

My colleague from the university had joined AAP in Mangalore and he started posting about it in facebook. I remember his call on facebook for joining AAP. I, with some reluctance still inside me, commented on it on his timeline. I asked him whether it is mandatory to wear cap for AAP members and some other things about AAP.

Simultaneous to the call for joining AAP at Mangalore , there was the online campaign for membership at national website of AAP. I choose to become member by online registration on 13^th Jan 2014.