AAP has a hard time fending off "deserters" tag

NEW DELHI: A month after it quit government in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faces the challenge of fending away barbs of being "deserters". Questions by people and volunteers continue to hound candidates and leaders on the campaign trail.

Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had resigned from the Delhi government on February 14 accusing the Congress and BJP of joining hands and disallowing the Jan Lokpal bill to be passed in the state assembly. Sources said it was not just AAP candidates in Delhi who had to face the heat but also senior leaders when they traveled across the country. "Some people are angry, others are confused. So we try and answer their questions and clarify our stand," an AAP leader said.

Concerned that these charges may stick, the party has included this issue in its publicity material, including videos on social media, leaflets or audio messages. However, it may be troubling that AAP's volunteers too have started to question the party's decision. In the Gurgaon rally on Sunday, local leader Ramesh Yadav walked off with 250 supporters citing lack of democracy and the fact that the party had run away from responsibility as the reason for quitting AAP.

But AAP leader Manish Sisodia denied that there was any such concern. "Did Atal Bihari Vajpayee run away from the 13-day government? We resigned on principle. With 28 seats we ran a 49-day government. The people should give us a full majority if they want a 5-year government."