Noted danseuse Mallika Sarabhai to join AAP

AHMEDABAD: The Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP)’s efforts to get a toehold in BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s home turf of Gujarat got a boost on Wednesday with Mallika Sarabhai – noted classical dancer, activist and a vocal critic of Modi – throwing in her lot with the new party.

Sarabhai, who had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha polls against LK Advani from Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency, said it was more of a social responsibility that made her join the AAP. "I feel it is a viable (political) option. In fact, all of us who crib about the system should join to swell numbers," she told ET.

At the AAP headquarters in Ahmedabad, the freshly-minted soldiers of the ‘common man’s movement’ said Sarabhai’s entry effectively makes it the main opposition to Modi.

Sitting at the modest house – owned by educationist Kishore Desai, who is now the AAP’s south Gujarat coordinator and gets back Re 1 as rent from the party for offering his home to be turned into a functioning HQ – state chief Sukhdev Patel smiles when asked about the challenge. "IB officials are quizzing AAP members and even visiting their homes and neighbourhood to inquire about them," says Patel, hinting that Team Modi is already feeling the heat. He feels their focus on good governance, and not personality politics, is rejuvenating the political scene in the state.

Patel says all the people are partners in their movement. "Ek divas na ek rupaya, tris divas na tris rupaya, sache swaraj ni sthaapna ma mari bhagidari (Re 1 for one day, Rs 30 for 30 days — this is my contribution to establish swaraj)" is the slogan being used to collect funds for the party. The Gandhi topis that the AAP members proudly wear are currently being "imported" from New Delhi and stocks seem to finish in no time. Even "Swaraj", the book authored by party chief Arvind Kejriwal, is out of stock here and there is a mad scramble among everyone trying to associate with the party to get hold of something to announce to the world their newly-forged association.

For a David challenging the Goliaths in the contemporary political arena, the party is insouciant about its modesty.

There are no loud banners. No limited entry. Students, retired government officers, RTI activists, social workers, engineers, doctors, advocates and housewives walk in with complete orderliness. But there is no doubting the screaming optimism.

"While students like me take care of everything that is needed, housewives who have joined the AAP help us campaign door to door," said Pinkesh Patel (23) as he sweeps with the broom that has disturbed the established political order of the land, Patel is a psychology student who has kept his PhD plans on hold till the Lok Sabha polls.