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 13th Jan 2014.
