Arvind Kejriwal unlikely to announce party on Gandhi Jayanti

NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal is unlikely to announce the formation of a party on October two as expected and instead a process will be set in motion seeking public suggestions on a draft of its vision and constitution.

It was earlier widely anticipated that Kejriwal will announce the formation of the party on Gandhi Jayanti.

Sources in India Against Corruption, however, said it will not happen as they will first seek opinion from people like the way it was done for Jan Lokpal campaign before finally announcing the party.

On October two, the sources said, Kejriwal is likely to put in public the draft vision and constitution of the proposed party and seek opinion of people.

The sources said senior leaders of the group will then tour the country to gauge the public response to the draft and use their inputs to revise the draft and finalise the party programme.

The party is likely to first test its strength in Delhi Assembly polls next year, skipping this year's Assembly elections in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

The question of forming a party had split erstwhile Team Anna vertically with the veteran activist parting ways with Arvind Kejriwal last week. Earlier on August four, Hazare had announced that he will work towards providing a political alternative without joining any party.

Earlier, Kejriwal-led group had decided to form a preparatory committee consisting of 80-100 members, including some retired judges and those from various movements and organisations, to chalk out the details of formation of the party.

It was also decided that an internal Lokpal, having retired judges as its members, will be constituted to ensure internal discipline within the party.

The preparatory committee, however, was not formed despite the plan of having its first meeting on August 26.