After tasting success and making an impressive debut on the political stage, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday kickstarted its membership drive across the country for new members.
Addressing a press conference, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "We have started our membership drive from today onwards. Anybody residing anywhere can become a member of the party. The whole public can become a member of the party."
Setting targets for enrolling new members, Kejriwal said, "It is our target to enroll one crore members of the party till January 26. After this, we will review our targets."
Kejriwal also announced that Rs. 10 membership fee has been abolished as many people were not able to afford it and said, "In our last National Executive meeting, it was decided that it is no longer necessary to charge this."
Party leader Gopal Rai, who have been given the responsibility to induct new members said, "Till now, 3 lakh people have registered online as party members after the Delhi elections."
"This is perhaps the first time in the history of India that membership to a party is being opened to public like this. This is our biggest countrywide drive to connect with people before the Lok Sabha polls," Rai added.
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Called 'Main Bhi Aam Aadmi', the 17-day campaign aims to garner support in several states, where AAP is looking to contest majorly in the Lok Sabha elections.
AAP leader Yogendra Yadav had earlier said that the party would start a membership drive where people from all over the country can apply to contest for the Lok Sabha elections.
"From tenth there will be a membership drive called 'main bhi aam aadmi hoon' where we will request the people from all over the country, who are interested in joining our party to get a membership of the AAP," said Yadav.
"We will ask them to take out time for the country and start doing something for their constituencies. No fees will be charged for the registration. The applications will be accepted from 10th to 26th of this month and the responsibility of which has been given to Gopal Rai," he said.
He further said that they have not decided the number of seats they will be contesting for in each constituency.