Aam Admi Party doing groundwork to "recover" Delhi: Yogendra Yadav

SINGAPORE: The Aam Adami Party ( AAP) is hopeful of returning to power in Delhi and has mobilised over 30,000 volunteers in the capital to woo voters, party leader Yogendra Yadav said today.

"We have faced reverses in Delhi (after the last state election). That's a set back. (But) now our plan, first of all, is to recover Delhi," he said on the sidelines of the IIMPACT 2014 conference, organised by the alumni of the Indian Institute of Management(IIM) here.

AAP has reorganised and recruited over 30,000 volunteers to work during the assembly election in Delhi, Yadav, party's chief spokesperson, said.

The psephologist-turned-politician expects AAP to get a clear majority in Delhi, with more than 36 seats as and when elections are held.

Party's Delhi MLAs were also working with the public through Mohalla Sabhas and consultations were on regarding MLA-led schemes, he said.

"Things are looking up for us in Delhi," Yadav said. A political observer backed Yadav's reading of Delhi voters, saying vote share of AAP increased by over 20 per cent in April Lok Sabha elections from that of November assembly polls last year.

At the Lok Sabha level, AAP would work on gaining ground by the next general elections in five years to become a national party, Yadav said.

Given Congress' poor performance in the last general elections, AAP was being recognised as the next main opposition, he said.

"For the next five years, we have our road map cut out for us," he told delegates at the conference, adding AAP wants to be the next viable party with presence in four to five more states in addition to Delhi and Punjab.

He also sees some softening of ground for BJP after having swept to power with landslide win in the national elections.

AAP is being supported by 1 lakh volunteers across the country in connecting with the people, he added.