The state Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will go to Assembly elections with an unusual mix of candidates ranging from auto drivers to IT professionals to even housewives.
On Friday, the party released its first list of 60 candidates, who would be contesting in various Assembly segments in Seemandhra and Telangana region.
The youngest in the list is a 26-year-old activist, Karanam Ambika Krishna, from the Sanathnagar constituency in the city.
A visually challenged High Court lawyer, Chandra Surpiya, has been declared as the party’s candidate from the Malkajgiri constituency.
Auto drivers get seatsTwo auto drivers from the city, Sridhar and Venkatesh Goud, are also in the fray as they would be contesting from Malakpet and Maheshwaram constituencies respectively.
A techie, Matta Suresh Kumar is the party candidate from Serilingampally while another Information Technology professional A. Shashi Kumar Reddy will contest from Jangaon constituency.
An RTI activist T.V. Bhaskar who also runs a magazine on the RTI act has been selected as the Assembly candidate for Mangalagiri constituency in Guntur district.
A chartered accountant by profession, Mohan Kumar Kadimpalli will contest from Yemmiganur in Kurnool district.
V. Purushottam, South India Coordinator, AAP, said that the candidates have been chosen after a thorough scrutiny.
“We have selected them broadly based on their good character and also for their conviction towards serving the society.”
Importance was given to candidates belonging to SC, ST and BC categories, besides women.
B. Ramakrishnam Raju, convenor, State campaign committee, said that the average assets of most of the selected candidates are much lesser than those of candidates of other political parties.