The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seems to be gaining support in Madurai as it is evoking good response to its membership enrolment drive.
While the party has received 32 applications seeking ticket for the Madurai Lok Sabha constituency, its leaders here claim that the membership has crossed the 9,000-mark in the ongoing enrolment campaign.
On Tuesday, AAP volunteers wearing the party’s trademark cap focused on two places — the district court and Maattuthavani bus stand. S. Sukumar, party’s Madurai district convenor, said they had set a target of enrolling over 25,000 members by February-end.
A special membership enrolment drive would be on at various places in the city and its surroundings such as North RTO Office, K. Pudur bus stand, Othakadai, Nataraj Theatre junction, By-Pass Road, Dinamani Talkies, Periyar bus stand, Therkuvasal, St. Mary’s Church, Eco Park, Collector’s office and Vadipatti from January 28 to February 2, he noted.
“This is a free basic membership drive. Our party did not expect this sort of response here and it shows the mood of the people,” Mr.Sukumar said. According to him, 250 people had joined the party in T. Kallupatti area.
The applications to contest the Lok Sabha seat had been forwarded to the party’s central election committee in New Delhi. The names of the aspirants would be screened in Chennai before the announcement of the candidate for Madurai, he added.
M. Sankar, district executive committee member, said lots of women and youths had been evincing interest in joining the party and 150 teams would conduct the membership enrolment drive.
The party would focus on public and political issues in Madurai from February 1.
Party sources said the district unit was making arrangements to hold a massive public meeting here in February by inviting its national and State leaders, and it would be the launch pad for the party in this part of State.
