AAP dusts off caps to boost visibility

Trademark white caps stage comeback

June 15, 2017 01:42 am | Updated 01:42 am IST - New Delhi

An AAP worker sports the white Gandhi cap.

An AAP worker sports the white Gandhi cap.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and volunteers have again started wearing their trademark white Gandhi caps in a bid to enhance the party’s “visibility” and reconnect with the people.

Once sported by every AAP worker at all times, the caps, with ‘ main Aam Aadmi hun (I am a common man)’ printed on it, seemed to have slowly gone out of fashion, appearing only at important rallies or meetings.

This is about to change as the AAP leadership has directed its workers to wear the caps in order to strengthen the party’s organisation.

‘Identity of party’

AAP’s Delhi convenor Gopal Rai said that the decision has been taken to remind the workers about the roots of the party — the caps were the identity of the AAP when it gained popularity in 2014.

“The caps have become an identity of the AAP worker. People of Delhi identify us with these. Wearing this is a matter of pride among all of us and this pride needs to be reignited among the workers,” said Mr. Rai, adding that the move will also strengthen the organisation and boost worker morale.

“All party workers irrespective of rank wear the cap. This brings us together and gives out a message that we do not follow the system of politics where one worker is better than the other. We are all here to serve the people,” Mr. Rai said.

A practical purpose of making the caps mandatory is to help people identify AAP workers in their respective constituencies, said the AAP leaders.

Some leaders added that the ‘common man’ appeal of the party workers often makes it difficult for residents to identify them among the crowds and approach them for help. “Unlike the politicians of other parties, who are here to make money, our workers are part of the crowd. They do not have fancy kurta-pajamas that make them stand out. Though this is the crux of our party, we often get lost in the crowd,” a senior leader said.

The leader said that the caps will help Delhiites identify party volunteers so they can approach them with their grievances.

The white caps were first used in Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption movement, from which the AAP had sprung up.

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